Stoltenberg repeats pledge to welcome Ukraine into Nato

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed the military alliance’s commitment to Ukraine yesterday, saying the war-torn nation will one day become a member of the world’s largest security organisation.

His remarks came as United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Nato counterparts gathered in Romania to drum up urgently needed support for Ukraine aimed at ensuring that Russia fails to defeat the country as it bombards its energy infrastructure.

“Nato’s door is open,” Mr Stoltenberg said. “Russia does not have a veto” on countries joining, he said, in reference to the recent entry of North Macedonia and Montenegro into the security alliance.

He added that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin “will get Finland and Sweden as Nato members” soon. The Nordic neighbours applied for membership in April, concerned that Russia might target them next.

“We stand by that, too, on membership for Ukraine,” the former Norwegian prime minister added. “At the same time, the main focus now is on supporting Ukraine, ensuring that President Putin doesn’t win, but that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign nation in Europe.

“President Putin cannot deny sovereign nations to make their own sovereign decisions that are not a threat to Russia. I think what he’s afraid of is democracy and freedom. That’s the main challenge for him.”