The NATO PA President explained why Ukraine is not being invited to join the Alliance at this time.

Ukraine is on an "inevitable path" to joining the Alliance. However, the ongoing war on its territory remains the primary obstacle to this goal.

This statement was made by the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Jerry Connolly, as reported by RBK-Ukraine citing "Radio Liberty."

"I believe we must address this; we need to restore Ukraine's sovereignty over its territories and then ensure that the path to NATO is open," Connolly emphasized.

He also pointed out that both NATO and the U.S. government support Ukraine's aspirations for membership.

"NATO has clearly indicated, and my country’s government, the U.S., has also made it clear - we welcome the idea of Ukraine joining NATO. What we call the 'inevitable path' to this membership," he stated.

Connolly acknowledged that Ukrainians are experiencing a certain impatience regarding NATO membership, but the situation on the battlefield remains complex.

"But we certainly have a complicated and tragic situation in Ukraine. This includes the presence of Russian troops and the Russian occupation. This needs to be resolved," he added.

The NATO PA President emphasized that Ukraine's accession to NATO should encompass all its territories, including the occupied areas.

"We do not know what the outcome of this struggle will be; we know what outcome we hope for. And that is why NATO and the U.S. government have allocated significant resources and established partnerships with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, so they can endure and restore full sovereignty over all their territory," Connolly declared.

When asked about the possibility of inviting Ukraine to NATO before the end of President Joe Biden’s term, Connolly noted that this process requires consultations with other Alliance members.

"President Biden has been sympathetic - and remains so - to Ukrainian aspirations, including NATO membership. He would have a positive attitude towards this. But whether he will take specific actions without consulting other NATO allies would be impossible. And again - he is focused on priorities," he emphasized.

According to him, the main priority at this time is to end the violence that Russian troops are perpetrating on Ukrainian territory.

Connolly also commented separately on the relationship between the U.S. and Germany regarding Ukraine's NATO membership.

"Germany is a good ally. You know, skepticism comes and goes. I can tell you, based on my conversations with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he firmly supports NATO's goals, and German aspirations align quite well with American objectives regarding Ukraine," he noted.

Ukraine's NATO Membership

Ukraine's accession to NATO is a key goal of its foreign policy, which has become even more pressing since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that inviting Ukraine to the Alliance and future membership are concrete steps towards establishing peace.