German Chancellor Rejects Ukraine Joining NATO at the meantime
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told German television channel ZDF on Thursday, “It’s important to realize that a country at war can never become a member of NATO,” noting that “everyone knows this, and there is no dispute about this”.
The German Chancellor pointed out that for the alliance, “the invitation is usually linked to the speed of accepting membership”.
Scholz added that at NATO summits in Vilnius last year and then in Washington this summer, we “described a perspective” on Ukraine’s long-term membership, “But I think that beyond that, there is currently no need for any new decision,” he added.
The Ukrainian president is pressing his Western allies for more support to help his country defeat Russia in the war, now in its third year.
Zelensky this month unveiled his “Plan for Victory,” a key proposal that calls for Ukraine to join the US-led NATO military alliance.
He has also called for lifting restrictions on the use of long-range weapons supplied by allies to Ukraine, but none of the demands has yet received unanimous support from allies.
In the interview, Scholz reiterated his position that the conflict shouldn’t develop into a direct war between Russia and NATO.
He also reiterated his opposition to the delivery of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, which can reach targets deep inside Russian territory.