Ukraine’s entry into NATO should be discussed after victory over russia — NATO Secretary General

For Ukraine to join NATO, it is necessary first to win over russia

On November 30, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced this during a press conference in Bucharest.

The head of the North Atlantic Alliance also added that the NATO allies made it clear that they are ready to continue to support Ukraine with advanced military equipment, ammunition, and everything necessary for defense.

The Secretary-General also noted that this is today's most important task for the Allies.

Stoltenberg emphasized that for Ukraine to win, allies should mobilize as much as possible regarding military, economic, financial, and humanitarian support for Ukraine.

"This is exactly what we are doing. If Ukraine does not win as an independent, sovereign state, then, of course, the question of membership will not be on the table at all because we will no longer have a candidate for membership in the person of Ukraine," the NATO leader emphasized.

The Secretary-General noted that now it is important to move step by step, and the most important and urgent step is to ensure Ukraine's victory.

"We need to develop a closer partnership — both political and practical — with Ukraine. This will strengthen their institutions and help them move from Soviet equipment standards to the doctrines of modern NATO equipment.

It is good for Ukraine to strengthen mutual compatibility. But it will also help Ukraine get closer to membership," Stoltenberg emphasized.

Reference

We will remind that on November 21, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, called on Western countries to support Ukraine's applications to join NATO and the European Union.

On November 15, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, stated that Ukraine is ready to defend NATO's eastern flank, although it is not yet a member of the Alliance.

On September 30, Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine would apply for NATO membership in an accelerated manner.

On October 2, the presidents of nine NATO countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia) called for a "significant increase in military aid to Ukraine" and supported its membership in the Alliance.

The President's Office reported on October 4 that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had received Ukraine's application. Now it will be considered at the level of the member states' ambassadors in Brussels.