No point discussing when Ukraine will join NATO until it wins war – Stoltenberg

Jens Stoltenberg made the statement at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, the Guardian reports.

According to Stoltenberg, there is no point in discussing when and how Ukraine can become a member of the Alliance until it wins the war.

"Because it is only if Ukraine prevails as a sovereign independent nation in Europe, that there is any meaning in discussing when and how Ukraine can become a member of the alliance," Stoltenberg said at the annual conference Denmark. 

He also emphasised that Ukraine has the right to choose its own path. 

"It is not for Moscow to decide what Ukraine can do, it is for Ukraine. And it is for NATO allies to decide on the issue of membership … and of course those the NATO’s door remains open," Stoltenberg assured. 

In the meantime, the NATO Secretary General called for the development of a multi-year program for Ukraine's integration.  

"We will work on how to help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era standards, doctrines and equipment to NATO standard doctrines and equipment, and to become fully interoperable with Nato. And of course, to do that also helps them to move towards NATO membership," Stoltenberg said. 

• On April 20, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the world would not understand NATO leaders if Ukraine did not receive an invitation to join the Alliance at the Vilnius summit.