Germany, allies to continue discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - Germany and its allies are continuing discussions on providing security guarantees for Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters in Moldova, after the European Political Community summit, Scholz said Western allies have not yet taken decisions on future security guarantees for Ukraine.

“This is about formulating security guarantees which would be as effective as possible, but which would be different from what is currently the case with NATO membership,” he said.

Scholz pointed out that Ukraine’s possible NATO membership was not on the table at the moment.

“The issue is now about supporting Ukraine, and especially in the current situation, it is not about membership,” he stressed.

“NATO allies are quite consciously focusing on supporting Ukraine in its defense struggle, without allowing the war to escalate into a war between NATO and Russia,” Scholz added.

Earlier, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the European Political Community summit, and asked for a clear membership perspective from NATO.

"In summer – in Vilnius, at the NATO summit – the clear invitation to the membership for Ukraine is needed, and the security guarantees on the way to NATO membership are needed," Zelenskyy said.

"The doubts must vanish. Positive decisions for Ukraine will be positive decisions for everyone," he said.

Ukraine officially submitted its application for fast-track NATO membership last September, following Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian regions. But NATO allies appear divided on the matter.

Russia, meanwhile, has repeatedly warned that the conflict could escalate into a world war if Ukraine were to be admitted into the US-led military alliance.