BERLIN

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz conveyed skepticism about Ukraine’s bid for quick NATO membership, stressing that countries with territorial conflicts cannot join the alliance.

“I think it is very important to make it clear that a country at war cannot become a member of NATO. Everyone knows that there is no disagreement about that,” Scholz told public broadcaster ZDF late Thursday.

Scholz reaffirmed Germany's political and military support for Ukraine in its war against Russia but ruled out offering an immediate invitation for the country to join NATO under current conditions.

“Germany is currently the biggest supporter of Ukraine in Europe, and the second biggest in the world after the US. Ukraine can rely on us, in this regard,” the German chancellor said.

“With regards to the NATO issue, I would like to note that we have already taken decisions at the Washington and Vilnius summits, we have outlined this perspective. But I believe that there is currently no need for a new decision beyond that,” he said.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged NATO allies to extend an immediate invitation for his country to join the military alliance, a key component of his "victory plan" aimed at increasing pressure on Russia and ending the war on Kyiv's terms.