US opposition to Ukraine's accession to NATO

The US Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as well as the Secretary General of this organization, stressed that Ukraine cannot join NATO during the war with Russia.

Ukraine has been declaring its desire to join NATO since 2008. Moscow strongly opposes any steps towards Ukraine's accession to NATO. According to the AAA news agency on Saturday, US Ambassador to NATO Julian Smith said: "Ukraine has little chance of joining this military alliance."

Smith added: "I think the Allies now agree that a proper invitation while they (Ukrainians) are in full-blown war is unlikely."NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently stressed that Ukraine cannot join the alliance while the war against Russia continues.

Emphasizing the same point, the US Ambassador to NATO said that NATO has a number of options, in addition to Ukraine's full NATO membership, that could be considered.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Ukraine's entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a "red line" for Moscow. The Russian government emphasizes that the expansion of the NATO zone into former Soviet territories threatens national security and Russia's sphere of influence.