Ukraine alone will decide on talks with Russia, Stoltenberg says 

This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Reuters reports.

"It is the Ukrainians, and only the Ukrainians, who can decide when there are conditions in place for negotiations, and who can decide at the negotiating table what is an acceptable solution," Stoltenberg said.

Speaking at a conference in the Norwegian city of Arendal, he added that NATO's role is to support Ukraine.

It is worth noting that earlier Turkey called on Ukraine and Russia to start negotiations immediately.

On August 15, NATO Secretary General's Chief of Staff Stian Jenssen suggested that Ukraine could become a member of the Alliance if it makes territorial concessions to the Russian Federation.

On August 16, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidential Office said that Kyiv considered unacceptable talk of possible NATO membership in exchange for giving up some of its territory to Russia. Jenssen later called his statement a mistake.