Ukraine’s membership of NATO not possible before war is over – Sttenberg

NATO Secretary General Jens Sttenberg said this at a press conference in Brussels on Monday ahead of the meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Ukrinform reports.

"It's too early to say exactly what will be the session at the Washington Summit. All Allies agree that in the midst of a war full membership is not possible. But of course, we will continue to address how we can move Ukraine and NATO even closer together as we prepare for the Washington Summit. What decision we make there has to be addressed at a later stage when we are closer to the summit," Sttenberg said.

He recalled that NATO allies were flowing up and implementing the decisions that they made on Ukraine and NATO membership at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July of this year.

In particular, the Allies shortened Ukraine's path to membership from a two-step process to a one-step process by removing the requirement for a Membership Action Plan for Ukraine, as was also done for Finland and Sweden. The Allies also founded a qualitatively new instrument – the NATO-Ukraine Council, where Ukraine and the Allies meet as equal partners to make joint decisions. They agreed on a comprehensive substantial program for ensuring full intererability between Ukrainian and NATO forces. Member countries are also in the process of delivering F-16 fighter jets, battle tanks, artillery and training to Ukraine.

Read also: Ukraine prevailing as a sovereign, independent nation – Sttenberg

All that, according to Sttenberg, brings Ukraine closer to NATO membership in a very practical way.

He noted that during the ministerial meeting, which begins tomorrow, the Allies would agree on recommendations for Ukraine's priority reform.

"We continue to support Kyiv on its path to NATO membership," Sttenberg said.

Photo: EPA