Baltic states: Ukraine's accession makes NATO stronger

NATO: Use of nuclear weapons would have serious consequences for Russia

Stoltenberg made it clear that the alliance is focused on providing immediate support to Ukraine.

AFP

The three Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, have expressed their support for opening a fast track to Ukraine's accession to NATO, while NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that the use of nuclear weapons would have serious consequences for Russia.

"The friends of Ukraine in the Baltic region fully support Ukraine's accession to NATO as soon as possible," the Baltic foreign ministers said in a joint tweet. "Ukraine's inspiring courage can only strengthen our alliance."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Kyiv's intention to apply for rapid accession to NATO after Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions to the Russian Federation.

It is noteworthy that the Baltic states, members of the European Union, among the strongest supporters of Ukraine.

These countries have a common border with Russia.

But Zelensky's announcement was greeted with caution from Washington and NATO headquarters in Brussels, where US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said: "Our view, at this moment, is that the best way for us to support Ukraine is through practical support on the ground in Ukraine. The operation is in Brussels, it must be taken up at another time.”

In the same context, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, "Our focus now is on providing immediate support to Ukraine to help it defend itself against Russia."

He added in his statements in Brussels that Ukraine has the right, of course, to restore the lands controlled by Russian forces, stressing that if Russia stops the fighting, there will be peace, but if Ukraine stops the fighting, it will cease to exist, as an independent and sovereign state in Europe.

He pointed out that "Russia must realize that a nuclear war can never be won and should never be fought," stressing that the use of nuclear weapons will have serious consequences for Russia.

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