; Whereas, on September 30, 2022, Ukraine formally applied to join NATO, and President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, We are taking our decisive step by signing Ukraine’s application for accelerated accession to NATO. ; Whereas, on June 17, 2023, President Vladimir Putin confirmed that the Russian Federation had begun to deploy tactical nuclear weapons within the Republic of Belarus, further increasing the threat posed by the Russian Federation to Ukraine, surrounding NATO countries, allies, partners, and United States troops stationed in the region; Whereas, on July 7, 2023, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that, at the NATO Summit 2023, NATO leaders will agree a multi-year program of assistance to ensure full interoperability between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and NATO and will reaffirm that Ukraine will become a member of NATO and unite on how to bring Ukraine closer to its goal ; Whereas, on August 24, Ukraine celebrates their independence day and commemorates the date on which they left the Soviet Union to become a sovereign and democratic state; Whereas NATO members are determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of their peoples , which Ukraine has done since the first day of the Russian Federation’s unprovoked full-scale invasion more than 500 days ago; and Whereas, with support from NATO members and partner nations around the world, Ukraine continues to counter the Russian Federation’s aggression: Now, therefore be it