Stoltenberg Considers Ukraine's NATO Membership Possible Without Lost Territories

Ukraine could join NATO without its lost territories, in which case security guarantees would apply only to areas under Kyiv's control, former alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated in an interview with the Financial Times.

“There are ways to resolve this issue. If there is a line (beyond which security guarantees will apply), it doesn’t have to be an internationally recognized border,” he said. At the same time, he urged caution in drawing parallels, as “no parallel is 100 percent correct.” Stoltenberg pointed out that the U.S. has provided security guarantees to Japan, but these do not include the Kuril Islands.

He also recalled NATO's membership of West Germany: “When there is a will, there are ways to find solutions,” emphasized the former NATO chief.

In response to the question of what he would suggest to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Stoltenberg mentioned the Soviet-Finnish war: “The war ended with the Finns giving up 10% of their territory, but they secured a safe border.”