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Stubb: Ukraine will not become a Nato member until it has joined the EU

According to Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Ukraine could join Nato once it has received bilateral security guarantees and becomes a member of the EU.

President Alexander Stubb addressed the UN Conference on the Future of the World on Monday.
Stubb speaking at the UN earlier this week. Image: Sarah Yenesel / EPA
  • Yle News

Ukraine will not become a member of Nato until it has become a member of the EU, according to Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

At the Helsinki Security Forum on Friday, Stubb was asked whether it was realistic to expect Ukraine to join Nato by the end of the year.

Stubb replied that membership by the end of the year is not realistic, but in the long term it is.

Ukraine is currently a candidate for EU enlargement and has informed Nato of its desire to join the alliance.

As president, Stubb has stood by Ukraine joining the international organisations and a bilateral defence deal between the two includes Finland backing Kyiv's future EU and Nato bids.

A country at war cannot become a member of Nato. However, Stubb said he believes that Russia has no interest in maintaining the conflict to prevent the country from joining Nato, and that the war will end at some point.