 and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pose for photographers ahead a joint press conference (Picture: AFP via Getty) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said there is 'no risk-free option' when it comes to offering Ukraine long-term security assurances. His comments came after the Kremlin warned the bloc any such move would be 'badly mistaken and potentially very dangerous'. Mr Stoltenberg said Ukraine 'is now closer to NATO than ever before', but the alliance once again stopped short of offering an immediate invitation. Instead, a group of G7 countries and other allies have promised to provide Kyiv with a security package to help 'end the war' and deter future aggression. Asked if the move brings the West closer to direct war with Russia, Mr Stoltenberg told reporters at the NATO summit in Vilnius 'there is already a fully-fledged war going on in Europe'. Standing beside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he went on: 'There is no risk-free option, no risk-free option for NATO allies either. But the biggest risk is if President Putin wins. 'Because then the message is that when he uses military force, when he violates international law, when he invades a neighbour, then he gets what he wants. 'That's exactly why it is so important for NATO allies to support Ukraine. It will be a tragedy for Ukraine if President Putin wins, but it will be dangerous for us. It will make us more vulnerable.' President Zelensky and Mr Stoltenberg speak to the media (Picture: Getty) A person holds a placard with portrait of Ukrainian President and slogan 'Glory to Ukraine, glory to the heroes' (Picture: EPA) Vladimir Putin speaks with his press secretary Dmitry Peskov (Picture: Getty) Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the proposed security assurances were a mistake which Moscow would be forced to factor into its future decision-making. 'We consider this move to be badly mistaken and potentially very dangerous,'){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said there is ‘no risk-free option’ when it comes to offering Ukraine long-term security assurances.
His comments came after the Kremlin warned the bloc any such move would be ‘badly mistaken and potentially very dangerous’.
Mr Stoltenberg said Ukraine ‘is now closer to NATO than ever before’, but the alliance once again stopped short of offering an immediate invitation.
Instead, a group of G7 countries and other allies have promised to provide Kyiv with a security package to help ‘end the war’ and deter future aggression.