NATO chief: Ukraine closer to NATO membership than ever before

NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg appeared to reject Pope Francis’s call for Ukraine to “raise the white flag” to Russia, saying that only Vladimir Putin has the option to end the war immediately, Report informs, citing The Guardian.

Ukraine, he said, was “closer to NATO membership than ever before.”

His comments, on Monday morning, came as he declared a “historic day” for NATO as Sweden’s flag was raised outside the western military alliance’s headquarters in Brussels for the first time after becoming its 32nd member last week, marking the end of more than 200 years of neutrality and alignment for the Nordic country.

In an apparent reference to the pope’s comments, Stoltenberg said in a joint press conference with Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson that “surrender is not peace” for Ukraine, adding that only the Russian president has the power to end the war.

Asked whether Ukraine would soon get a NATO invite, he said: “Ukraine will become a NATO ally. The question is not if but when. Ukraine is now closer to NATO membership than ever before.”