Ukraine must defeat Russia before joining NATO – Stoltenberg

This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a press conference in Bucharest on Wednesday. 

“Whatever you think about when Ukraine can become a member (of NATO - ed.), the precondition for this issue to be on the table at all is for Ukraine to win. And we are helping to make it happen at this moment. The allies made it clear during the meeting that they are ready to maintain support with advanced military equipment, ammunition, fuel, everything that Ukrainians need for self-defense. This is the immediate most important task for the allies,” Stoltenberg said.

According to him, if Ukraine loses, there will simply be no candidate for joining the Alliance.  Therefore, the members of the Alliance should provide maximum support to 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,” Stoltenberg noted.

• On September 30, Ukraine submitted an application to join NATO in an accelerated manner.