Stoltenberg Claims Ukraine's Victory in War is a Condition for NATO Membership

The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has stated that Ukraine's victory in the war is one of the conditions for the country to join the North Atlantic Alliance as quickly as possible. During a press conference with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in Brussels, Stoltenberg emphasized that "NATO's doors are always open" for Ukraine.

"The most pressing issue now is that Ukraine wins as a sovereign state. The focus must be on ensuring Ukraine's victory because if President Putin (Russian President Vladimir Putin) wins this war, joining no longer makes sense. And that is a prerequisite for discussions around Ukraine's membership," Stoltenberg said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky submitted an application for Ukraine's swift NATO membership on September 30, 2022. At the same time, Zelensky admitted that Kyiv would not receive membership until the end of the war.