In Moldova, Zelenskiy presses NATO bid, seeks interim guarantees

Officials, including High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and Moldova's Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu and Interior Minister Ana Revenco, take part in a ceremony opening the European Union's partnership mission in Chisinau, Moldova, May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Vladislav Culiomza

BULBOACA, Moldova (Reuters) -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pressed his case on Thursday for Ukraine to be part of the NATO military alliance and urged the alliance to provide security guarantees if membership was not possible for now.

Joining a meeting of European leaders in Moldova, the Ukrainian leader was seeking to bolster Western support ahead of his country's expected counter-offensive against Russia's invasion.