Ukraine: Germany and Netherlands back NATO membership
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have both expressed support for Ukraine's membership of NATO.
Speaking at a joint press conference in The Hague, Rutte said that Ukraine "belongs in the European family" and that NATO membership was "the best way to protect Ukraine from further Russian aggression".
Scholz echoed Rutte's comments, saying that Ukraine "has a European perspective" and that NATO membership was "a strategic goal" for the country.
The comments from Rutte and Scholz are a significant boost for Ukraine's hopes of joining NATO. Ukraine has been seeking to join the alliance for many years, but its membership has been blocked by Russia.
Russia has warned that Ukraine's membership of NATO would be a "red line" for it and has threatened to take military action if Ukraine joins the alliance.
However, the comments from Rutte and Scholz suggest that Russia's threats are not deterring NATO members from supporting Ukraine's membership. If Ukraine does join NATO, it would be a major blow to Russia's influence in the region.
In addition to the comments from Rutte and Scholz, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has also said that Ukraine has a "right to choose its own security arrangements".
Stoltenberg said that NATO's door is "open" to Ukraine and that the alliance would "continue to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity".
