NATO members gathered at the Vilnius Summit in Lithuania and expressed their support for Ukraine’s membership in the alliance. However, they did not provide a specific timeline for when this may happen. The summit, held on July 11-12, focused on global security challenges, including the ongoing war in Ukraine. NATO reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine, acknowledging the progress it has made on its reform path. In the summit’s communique, NATO eliminated the requirement for Ukraine to implement a “Membership Action Plan” and instead introduced an “Annual National Program” to review progress regularly. The alliance pledged to assist Ukraine in implementing democratic and security reforms necessary for eventual membership. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed disappointment with the decision, stating that it would be absurd if Ukraine was not given a timetable for joining NATO. President Zelensky criticized the vague wording about “conditions” for inviting Ukraine, stating that Ukraine deserves respect and should be included in the discussion. Before the summit, President Joe Biden stated that the war with Russia must end before NATO can admit Ukraine. The United States and NATO allies are working on presenting a rational path for Ukraine to qualify for membership. The White House also indicated that Ukraine could receive security guarantees similar to those given to Israel in its fight against Russia. President Biden is expected to meet with President Zelensky during the summit.