‘While the war in Ukraine continues, joining NATO is not possible’, – Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte says

While the war in Ukraine continues, joining NATO is not possible.

This was stated by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the Munich Security Conference.

“As long as Ukraine is involved in combat operations, it cannot be accepted into NATO,” Rutte said.

Responding to a question about the prospects of such a step, he clarified that “in this case, it is important not to promise Ukraine too much.”

Rutte added that at the Alliance summit in Washington, stages should be defined for “gradual further convergence of Ukraine with the North Atlantic Alliance.”

Earlier, the United States stated that inviting Ukraine to NATO at the next summit is not planned.