NATO doing everything for Ukraine to join NATO “when time is right” - Rutte

NATO Allies have seen President Zelensky's Victory Plan, and will continue discussing it on Thursday, when the Ukraine-NATO meeting will take place at the level of defense ministers. Allies are doing everything to prepare Ukraine for NATO membership, but that day will come "at the right time."

This was stated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte today at a press conference in Brussels ahead of the NATO defense ministerial, reports an Ukrinform correspondent.

"We discussed the victory plan with the Allies, it will no doubt be on the table this week, when we have on Thursday night a NATO-Ukraine meeting with defense ministers...  What we’re doing together is making Ukraine stronger, more interoperable with NATO, and better prepared than ever to join our Alliance. I believe that all this work clearly constitutes a bridge to NATO membership. Ukraine will join the Alliance, of course, when the time is right. We will also discuss this item in Zelensky's Victory Plan," the head of the Alliance emphasized.

He recalled that at the summit in Washington, the allies agreed that Ukraine's path to NATO membership is irreversible, and that Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before. The allies accepted a Comprehensive Assistance Package, are establishing a separate NATO Command in Wiesbaden to coordinate and provide security assistance and training for Ukraine, and made a financial commitment to provide Ukraine with EUR 40 billion in military aid next year. Many of the allies have signed bilateral security agreements with Ukraine.

He reiterated his firm belief that Ukraine would become NATO member, adding that he will applaud when this day comes.

Rutte also stressed that Putin, or Russia, have no say and no veto power on this matter as they are unable to influence these discussions. So it is up to the Allies to discuss among themselves how to move forward, Mark Rutte added.

At the same time, he refrained from specifying any dates for the implementation of the provisions of the Victory Plan presented by Ukraine, and noted that this is a multifaceted document that needs thorough consideration at the level of Allies.

As reported earlier, a two-day meeting of NATO defense ministers kicks off tomorrow in Brussels, where one of the main issues on the agenda will be continued defense support for Ukraine. As expected, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, will attend the meeting.