All NATO allies have agreed that Ukraine will become a member, says secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, Sky News reports.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Ukraine defence contact group at Ramstein air base in Germany, he also told reporters that, once the war in Ukraine ends, Kyiv must have "the deterrence to prevent new attacks".
He said that the main focus is now to ensure the country prevails against Russia.
It comes after Mr Stoltenberg yesterday pledged continued support for the country during his first visit to Kyiv since Russia's invasion just over a year ago.
"Let me be clear, Ukraine's rightful place is in the Euro-Atlantic family," he told a news conference.
"Ukraine's rightful place is in NATO."
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that preventing Ukraine from joining NATO remains one of the goals of what Moscow calls its "special military operation."
He said that Ukraine's accession would pose a "serious, significant threat to our country, to our country's security".
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this year that he was grateful for an invitation into the alliance, but said his country needs a roadmap for becoming a member.
