The US and Germany are under intense pressure from other allies to show greater support for Ukraine’s eventual NATO membership, just days before the leaders of the military alliance meet. each other in Lithuania.

Washington and Berlin advocated a form of language for the summit’s concluding statement that did not fully endorse the “path” to NATO membership, let alone invite Kiev to join after the war. ended – at the request of Ukraine’s most staunch supporters in Eastern Europe.

Other members of the coalition were caught off guard by the “conservative” stances of the United States and Germany, officials briefed on the negotiations told the Financial Times.

Read more about Ukraine’s NATO hopes here.