Stoltenberg: Ukraine’s task is to maintain independence, not join NATO

The primary task of Ukraine now is to maintain independence, not join NATO, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference following a meeting of the foreign ministers of the countries of the bloc in Bucharest.

“It is important that Ukraine survive as an independent nation in Europe… If Ukraine does not survive as an independent and sovereign state, then the question of NATO membership will not even arise,” leads his words to RIA Novosti.

Stoltenberg also stressed that in order to preserve Ukraine’s independence, NATO must mobilize the maximum military, financial and economic assistance for Ukraine.

On September 30, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, following a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of the country, announced that Ukraine file application for membership in NATO in an accelerated manner, the document has already been signed. According to the current procedure, the entry into the alliance of a new member must be supported by all the other members, which are now 30. In early October, Ukraine’s entry into NATO was supported by the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and several other countries.

At the Russian Foreign Ministry earlier stressedthat Ukraine’s entry into NATO in the current situation is an irrational step, and the expansion of the bloc does not lead to strengthening the security of the alliance.

Since February, the United States has supplied Ukraine with more than 88,000 tons of weapons and military equipment. The total amount of military aid from the United States to Ukraine since the end of February has reached $21.5 billion. The Russian authorities have repeatedly criticized the military assistance of Western countries to Ukraine. In this regard, back in April, Moscow sent a note of protest to all countries, including the United States. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the United States is trying to drag out the conflict by supplying weapons to Ukraine.

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