The blocs members are concerned that the topic could lead to a public rift between the EU and US, the agencys sources have said

NATO leaders convening for a key summit this month will deliberately avoid discussing membership for Ukraine, AFP reported on Wednesday, citing sources. The bloc's members are reportedly wary of raising the issue due to fears it could exacerbate tensions between the EU and US.

Members of the US-led military bloc are highly likely to "steer clear of its previous strong statements that Ukraine is on course to join the alliance" when the summit takes place in The Hague in late June, the agency said.

One diplomatic source told AFP that the final declaration is expected to omit any mention of Ukrainian membership to maintain unity among member states. "There will be nothing on that," a NATO diplomat said. "My expectation is we will be absolutely silent."

US President Donald Trump has expressed firm opposition to Ukraine's bid to join NATO. In February, he suggested that Ukraine "can forget about NATO," adding that Kiev's bid was "probably the reason the whole thing started," referring to the conflict with Russia.

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky is still expected to be present at the summit, but any formal talks between the bloc and Kiev are unlikely, AFP said. "It will be a PR disaster if he's not there," another diplomat told the agency.

While NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has insisted that Ukraine remains a priority issue at the summit, AFP sources have painted a different picture. They suggested that the overwhelming emphasis will be on trying to satisfy Trump's demands that member states drastically ramp up their defense spending. It "is the most important part and no one wants to jeopardize that," the agency's source said.

Russia has stated that NATO membership for Ukraine is a red line and one of the key reasons for the conflict, insisting that Ukraine adopt a neutral status as a key condition for a lasting peace.

While Trump administration officials have described NATO membership as "a bridge too far," Kiev has refused to commit to neutrality or to refraining from hosting foreign troops on its soil, which Moscow also considers to be a red line.

(RT.com)