The aim of the Oslo meeting is to prepare for the NATO leaders’ summit to be held in July in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.

Several former Soviet Union countries and NATO members hope to make formal commitments to Ukraine at the summit, although an offer to join appears unlikely.

The alliance has a mutual protection clause, governed by Article 5, which requires all allies to defend a member in the event of attack.

Derek Hogan, one of the US officials in charge of European affairs, said the United States – NATO’s main military force – was in no rush to make official pledges.

“We will consider ways to support Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic ambitions,” Hogan told reporters.

“But for now, Ukraine’s immediate needs are practical, so we must focus on strengthening its defense and deterrence capabilities,” he continued.

According to him, Blinken will try to achieve “progress on key goals” for Ukraine, but no announcements are expected after the Oslo meeting.

Finland and Sweden, which for decades opted for a military alliance strategy to avoid conflict with Moscow, reassessed their position and applied for NATO membership after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 .

Finland officially joined the Joint Defense Organization in April.

Sweden is still waiting, its fate in the hands of Turkey and Hungary, both of which must accept membership, with this decision requiring unanimity among the organization’s members.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan currently opposes this because he accuses Stockholm of harboring members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), whom Ankara considers terrorists.

Western diplomats hope that Ankara will reconsider its position after the presidential election, the second round of which will be held on Sunday.