NATO's concrete actions to make Ukraine’s membership easier when time comes – Stoltenberg

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that admitting new members to the Alliance requires consensus, but the efforts done now will make Ukraine's accession easier when the time comes.

Stoltenberg noted before the start of the meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in Washington that all allies agree that Ukraine will join the Alliance, but it is too early to predict when this will occur.

"To invite a new ally, we need consensus. We are moving together with Ukraine, Ukraine is getting closer and closer to membership and we are doing this through concrete actions," Stoltenberg said.

According to him, now it is only about the wording that the leaders are going to agree on later today.

"The fact that we will have a NATO command of 700 people located in Germany, as well as hubs in the eastern part of the Alliance to simplify training and security assistance for Ukraine is also part of Ukraine's approach to NATO," the Secretary General said.

He also cited long-term financial commitment, development of interoperability, and the supply of Western fighter jets as examples of how the Alliance is bringing Ukraine into NATO and making it "easier for them to become a member when the time is right."

Despite this, NATO is unlikely to invite Ukraine to join the alliance during the Washington meeting.

On Wednesday 10 July, US President Joe Biden announced the transfer of additional air defence systems to Ukraine: the USA will provide an additional Patriot battery.

Subsequently, the White House mentioned they would send Ukraine some other air defence systems.