Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on September 30, that his country formally submitted an “accelerated” application to join the NATO alliance.

In a video update posted to Zelensky’s official social media channels, he said Ukraine was “taking a decisive step for the security of the entire community of free nations”.

“We are de facto allies,” he said. “De facto, we have already completed our path to NATO. De facto, we have already proven interoperability with the Alliance’s standards, they are real for Ukraine – real on the battlefield and in all aspects of our interaction.”

“Today, Ukraine is applying to make it de jure. Under a procedure consistent with our significance for the protection of our entire community. Under an accelerated procedure.” Credit: Volodymyr Zelensky via Storyful