British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Thursday that Ukraine’s “rightful place” is in the NATO military alliance.
Sunak said he agreed with earlier comments by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that Ukraine was on its technique to NATO membership.
“I agree with the NATO Secretary General: Ukraine’s right place is in NATO,” said CNBC’s Sunak Silvii Amaro.
The UK prime minister said allied nations were sending a “strong signal” to Russian President Vladimir Putin that they’d protect Ukraine’s security arrangements in the long run.
“We wish to be sure that we put in place long-term security measures for Ukraine to send a really strong signal to Vladimir Putin that we’re not going anywhere,” he said.
“We’re here to remain and can proceed to support Ukraine, not only now but for years to come back.”
Sunak was speaking in Moldova, where heads of state from EU and non-EU countries gather for the second annual meeting of the European Political Community.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addresses the London Defense Conference at King’s College in central London, May 23, 2023.
Ben Stansall | afp | Getty’s paintings
Earlier on Thursday, Stoltenberg said “NATO’s door is open to recent members” ahead of a foreign ministers’ meeting in Oslo, Norway.
Stoltenberg said all members agreed that Ukraine would turn into a member of the alliance, though he didn’t provide a particular timetable for enlargement.
“All allies also agree that Ukraine will turn into a member of the alliance, and all allies agree that it is as much as the NATO allies and Ukraine to choose when Ukraine will turn into a member,” Stoltenberg said.
NATO members are divided on the necessities for Ukraine before joining a military alliance. Eastern European countries said they wanted Kiev to affix as soon as possible, while many Western countries preferred to act more cautiously for fear of Russian aggression.
Nevertheless, Stoltenberg said that Moscow shouldn’t have a “veto against NATO enlargement.”
Informal meeting in Norwegian capital follows full NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania on July 11-12, where other topics shall be discussed Final accession of Sweden to the group after prolonged resistance from Turkey.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to arrange for the long-awaited counter-offensive against Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Sunak in Britain last month as a part of a visit to Western allies to debate further military support for Ukraine.
After the talks, Britain agreed to send lots of of air defense missiles and armed drones to Ukraine. This is in addition to the Storm Shadow cruise missiles the UK announced per week earlier.