Nato seeks security guarantees for Ukraine, conclusion to Sweden accession

Oslo, Jun 1 (EFE) – Nato foreign ministers on Thursday discussed possible security guarantees for Ukraine that would prevent future conflicts like the ongoing Russian invasion.

At an informal meeting in Oslo, the allied foreign ministers also called for Sweden’s accession to be concluded. Turkey and Hungary currently blocking the process.

“Our focus today was on how we can bring Ukraine closer to Nato, where it belongs,” secretary general Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference.

The Norwegian stressed that the allies are already providing Ukraine with “unprecedented assistance” and said he was confident that Ukrainian forces “now have the capabilities they need to liberate more occupied land”, but added that “we have to do more”.

Ahead of a summit in Vilnius in July, Stoltenberg said Nato was working on a “multi-year assistance package” with “robust funding” that will ensure “Ukraine’s deterrence and defense for the longer-term, help rebuild its security and defense sector, and transition Ukraine from Soviet-era doctrines, equipment and training to full interoperability with Nato.”

“I believe that in Moscow, they think that democracies are lazy, that we are not ready to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes and we are going to prove the opposite, by demonstrating that democracies are actually able to stand up for their values and be there when they are needed,” he added.

The ministers also discussed Ukraine’s aspirations to join the alliance, with the secretary-general stressing that “all allies agree that Nato’s door remains open” and that “Russia does not have a veto.”

“All allies agree that Ukraine will become a member of Nato,” Stoltenberg said.

Many of the ministers were confident that Sweden would be a full Nato member by the next summit in Vilnius

Stoltenberg announced that he would visit Turkey “in the near future” to discuss the Nordic country’s membership, and welcomed the entry into force of Sweden’s new anti-terrorism legislation on Thursday. EFE

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