NATO considers it paramount to ensure Ukraine's victory

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the key issue, for now, is to ensure Ukraine's victory over Russia in an ongoing war.

The most important thing now is Ukraine's victory, rather than discussing its accession to NATO, as otherwise, it will not be able to join anywhere, he told a briefing, TASS reports.

Earlier, Stoltenberg said that the North Atlantic Alliance recognised Ukraine's aspiration to join the organisation, but considered the main priority at the moment as military support for the country.

He also said that the alliance is sure that the only way to peace in Ukraine is constant supplies of weapons to the country.

NATO countries had agreed to work more closely with Ukraine and would continue supporting the country "as long as necessary", Stoltenberg added.

United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken earlier said that NATO planned to increase its presence "from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea". He also stressed that the Black Sea region was of strategic importance to the alliance.