Now isn’t the opportune time to extend an invitation to Ukraine for membership in the North Atlantic Organization (NATO), and it isn’t on the agenda, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told ZDF, Germany’s largest broadcaster.
“A country at war cannot become a NATO member. Everyone knows this, and there is no disagreement on it. In NATO, invitations are usually quickly tied to membership,” he said.
Scholz’s remarks implicitly opposed the first point of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan. NATO has already made decisions on Ukraine’s membership prospects at two summits in Vilnius and Washington, he said.
“At this time, no further decisions are needed beyond this,” the chancellor said.
Scholz emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine, while also stressing the need to avoid direct military confrontation between NATO and Russia.
“This is where I am very clear about my position and will not change it,” he said.
Scholz also voiced opposition to supplying German Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine’s military, saying it would contribute to escalating the war.