ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Key decision makers from NATO member states arrived in Lithuania’s capital of Vilnius on Tuesday to partake in a summit of the military alliance, with the main topic on the agenda being discussions on Ukraine’s pathway to future membership as well as declaring further support for the war-torn country.

The member states also addressed the pressing challenges facing NATO at the moment, strengthening cyber security, and further boosting their defense and deterrence.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg announced that the members had adopted a three-item package aimed at bringing Ukraine closer to the alliance.

The items consist of facilitating the Ukrainian armed forces’ transition from Soviet-era to NATO standards, establishing a new NATO-Ukraine Council, and reaffirming that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance.

Ihor Zhovkva, chief diplomatic advisor for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said in late June that the president will not travel to the summit if the leaders do not show “courage” in starting Kyiv’s accession process.

Ukraine has been fighting a Russian invasion for over 500 days. Zelensky in September formally announced Kyiv’s application to join NATO, asking for an “accelerated accession”, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced annexing four Ukrainian regions.

Holding the summit in a Baltic country is an indication of NATO’s continued opposition to Russia.