"NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg Extends Membership Invitation to Ukraine"

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO would effectively mean its membership, with unanimous agreement among Allies and a streamlined process without intermediary steps. Stoltenberg emphasized NATO's commitment to Ukraine's membership, contrasting it with the European Union's lengthier invitation-to-membership timeline, and stressed the need for clear assurances to end the war and prevent future Russian aggression, highlighting the ultimate security guarantee of Article 5 and NATO membership.