NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wants Ukraine to join the Western defense alliance within the next 10 years.
"I very much hope that Ukraine will be our ally," Stoltenberg said in an interview with the dpa agency, answering a question about possible NATO expansion. He added that this is exactly what the leading alliance was working on.
On the eve of the NATO summit in Washington, Stoltenberg appealed for greater aid to Ukraine for defense against Russian aggression.
"The stronger the support, the sooner the war will end. The more we make a long-term commitment, the sooner the war will end," he said.
"That's right because Putin thinks he can pretend we're not there. We have to convince him that he can't ignore us, and that can then create the conditions for ending the war," added the NATO Secretary General.
On the issue of eastward enlargement, Stoltenberg placed himself in the camp of countries that favor Ukraine's rapid progress in the admission process.
The declaration of last year's summit stated that an official invitation to Ukraine would be sent when the allies agree and certain conditions are met. Reforms in the area of democracy and the security sector were mentioned as specific conditions.
The consensus of all 32 NATO members is necessary for formal steps in the admission process. There is no such thing for now, among other things due to the opposition of the USA and Germany. Chancellor Olaf Soltz has said on several occasions that Russian aggression must first end.
To send a positive message to the Ukrainians from the summit, the alliance is currently considering the possibility of declaring the admission process irreversible. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to attend the meeting of heads of state and government of NATO members.
For Stoltenberg, the summit in Washington will be the last regular summit before leaving office.
After 10 years in October, he will hand over the post of general secretary to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Stoltenberg assessed that Rute will be an outstanding Secretary General of NATO, as he has already proven his ability to create consensus in the position of Prime Minister.
He added that Rute brings with him the necessary experience and knowledge to perform that difficult duty.
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