"NATO Summit: Zelenskyy Optimistic Despite Ukraine's Exclusion, Turkey Supports Sweden's Bid"

NATO and Ukraine are holding high-level talks under a new NATO-Ukraine Council, which aims to strengthen political integration and decision-making. While Ukraine's membership is not yet granted due to the ongoing war with Russia, NATO has simplified Ukraine's path to eventual membership and offered new security guarantees and military aid. The Kremlin considers G7 nations' plans to offer Ukraine security guarantees as "extremely ill-judged and potentially very dangerous," while China expresses concern about NATO's eastward expansion. Hungary welcomes NATO's decision to bring Ukraine closer to the alliance without a clear path for joining, emphasizing the need to avoid an "anti-China" stance. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy seeks military aid, a formal invitation to join NATO, and security guarantees from member states at the NATO summit.