NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday (May 15) he expects allies to agree on a multi-year programme to help Ukraine advance towards NATO military standards at a July summit in Vilnius, Reuters reports.
Speaking at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit via video link, Stoltenberg said NATO would work on "how to help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era standards, doctrines and equipment to NATO standards and doctrines and equipment, and become fully interoperable with NATO."
He added that this would help Ukraine move towards NATO membership.
Ukraine is striving for eventual NATO membership as it acquires advanced Western weaponry from supporters in the alliance to fight off a Russian invasion.
Stoltenberg also said he plans to leave his post as NATO secretary general when his tenure ends in October.
"I have made it clear that I have no other plans than to leave this fall. I will be in almost twice as long as originally planned. And that's all I have to say about that," Stoltenberg said.
