Global Courant 2023-04-21 06:46:15
Fast News
The Russia-Ukraine conflict continues with all its violence on its 422nd day.
Soldiers of the “Spartan” assault brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard participate in military exercises in the Kharkiv region. (AFP)
Friday, April 21, 2023
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has rejected a swift decision on Ukraine’s membership in NATO, the Western alliance that supported Ukraine throughout its war with Russia and whose member states provided it with weapons.
“The door is slightly open, but now is not the time to decide,” Pistorius said late on ZDF’s Maybrit Illner programme. He added that he is aware of the decision-making situation of Ukraine.
Pistorius said that Ukraine’s decision to join the alliance could not be taken only out of solidarity, but “with composure and a warm heart. Not the other way around.”
He added that the possible membership of Ukraine in NATO or the European Union will not be discussed at the fourth meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which will be held on Friday at the Ramstein US Air Base in southern Germany.
Pistorius’ comments indicated that in the first visit of NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion 14 months ago, he invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the NATO summit in Vilnius in July, and that Ukraine’s NATO membership bid and country It came after he said he would have high solid security guarantees for him. entered the summit agenda.
Click here for our live updates from Thursday, April 20.
Source: TRTWorld and its agencies
