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"Putin doesn't decide this," NATO chief reveals when Ukraine will join the alliance

"Putin doesn't decide this," NATO chief reveals when Ukraine will join the alliance

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte does not want Ukraine's possible membership in the defense alliance to depend on Russia's stance.

"NATO must make it clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no veto power or vote to decide who will join the alliance in the future," Rutte said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"Ukraine will join NATO one day after there is lasting peace," Rutte added.


And according to Rutte, to get there, NATO must ensure that Putin will never again try to occupy parts of Ukraine and put Ukraine in the best possible position before peace talks begin, writes yahoonews, the Telegraph reports.

NATO's Rutte seeks more support for Ukraine, backs Trump's defense budget request
Read too NATO's Rutte seeks more support for Ukraine, backs Trump's defense budget request

Rutte also reiterated his call for higher defense contributions from NATO allies.

"Spending 2% of GDP on defense was not nearly enough," Rutte said, without giving a figure.

"If allies do not increase their security spending, NATO will no longer be able to defend itself in four or five years," the military alliance chief concluded.

Otherwise, US President Donald Trump recently called on allies to spend 5% of their economic output on defense.

For Germany and many others, this would mean they would have to double their defense spending. /Telegraph/