NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has arrived in Kiev. This was reported by the publication “Strana.ua” by posting a photo with Stoltenberg on the street of the Ukrainian capital.
According to the Kiev Independent telegram channel, Stoltenberg visited the memorial to fallen Ukrainian servicemen.
The visit of the NATO Secretary General to Ukraine was not announced in advance, he was going there for the first time since the beginning of the Russian military operation.
Earlier, the Financial Times (FT), citing sources, wrote that in March Stoltenberg presented NATO countries with a document outlining “practical and political” proposals for Ukraine. On 4 and 5 April, Brussels hosted a meeting of foreign ministers from the alliance countries. According to the FT, during the meeting it became clear that there are disagreements among NATO members regarding Ukraine’s possible entry into the military bloc.
According to the sources of the publication, more and more states believe that at the July NATO summit in Vilnius it is necessary to offer Kiev a “road map” for joining the alliance. However, the United States, Germany and Hungary oppose it. The United States, in particular, fears that Ukraine’s rapprochement with NATO during the hostilities could lead to an escalation of the conflict, including nuclear, with Russia.
Instead, according to the FT, Washington is proposing to focus on providing short-term military, financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
In February, US President Joe Biden visited Kiev. His trip was to coincide with the anniversary of the start of the military operation. The US leader met with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy and announced a new military aid package. In order to avoid leaks, the White House decided that a small group of people would travel to Kiev with Biden – a few closest aides, a medical team, two journalists and security.
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