NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference after the extraordinary meeting of NATO defense ministers that the decision on applying for membership in NATO is Ukraine’s sovereign right, which NATO allies will respect, but Russia has no veto against such a process.
“Ukraine is an independent and sovereign country. It has the right to choose its own path, and we respect the decisions made by the democratically elected government of Ukraine. So, it is up to them to decide whether or not they aspire to NATO membership. Then, 30 allies have to Take a decision on this issue, and it is not for Russia to try to veto such an operation.”
He stressed that President Putin must stop the war, withdraw his forces, and engage in diplomacy in good faith.
