Two sources familiar with the plans told the Washington Examiner that Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis , who co-led the Senate NATO Observer Group, will lead the six-member delegation, which will include Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin and Sens. Pete Ricketts , Angus King , and Dan Sullivan . President Joe Biden is also slated to attend the summit when it convenes July 11-12.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had lobbied the alliance to grant his country NATO membership in the two years leading up to Russia's invasion, but the threat of impending military intervention was not enough to convince every member state to approve the application. Members such as Turkey voiced concerns over Ukraine's long-standing corruption issues and have not shown an interest in approving the Eastern European nation's requests to join the alliance.