2024-07-05 14:58:40
“I very much hope that Ukraine will be an ally,” he said, when asked about the possible expansion of NATO in the next 10 years, and emphasized his work to achieve it.
The outgoing secretary-general was speaking ahead of a meeting of NATO leaders in Washington, where the alliance will celebrate its 75th anniversary and announce new support for Ukraine. Mr. Stoltenberg called on NATO allies to provide Ukraine with more military aid so that it can repel invading Russia. “The stronger our support, the sooner this war can end,” he said.
“This is a paradox,” said Mr. Stoltenberg. – The more we make long-term commitments, the sooner the war can end. Because now [Rusijos prezidentas Vladimiras] Putin believes he can wait.”
Mr. Stoltenberg’s speech on enlargement is in line with the position of the allies, who expect rapid progress in accepting Ukraine, which was largely agreed upon back in 2008, but Ukraine’s membership in NATO remains a controversial issue. Ukraine has not received an official invitation and there is no timetable for its accession. In order to invite Ukraine to the Alliance, all its members must agree to it. Germany and the United States of America have made it clear that this will not happen while the country is at war with Russia.
The declaration of last year’s NATO leaders’ meeting in Vilnius says only that the invitation will be sent when the allies “reach an agreement and the conditions are fulfilled”. The NATO declaration mentions Ukraine’s democratic reforms and reforms in the security sector among such conditions.
2024-07-05 14:58:40