Each NATO member assured Zelensky at the Vilnius summit that Ukraine would become a member of the alliance , US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said, commenting on Zelensky's words about the absurdity of the lack of clear deadlines for joining the bloc.

CNN quotes the head of the Pentagon: "It was delightful to sit in a room and watch as 31 countries assured him (Zelensky) one after another that he[Ukraine] would become a member of NATO."