ANKARA

It is in the interest of both Ukraine and NATO for Kyiv to prevail in its war with Russia, the alliance's chief said on Wednesday.

"So therefore, it is important that our solidarity with Ukraine is not only demonstrated in words, but also in deeds," Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a joint news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Brussels.

At the conference, held ahead of the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting and on the sidelines of talks between allied foreign ministers, Stoltenberg expressed his gratitude to member countries for their support for Kyiv.

He also noted that the council meeting would focus on more assistance for Ukraine.

"Because it is in Ukraine's interest but also in our own security interest that Ukraine prevails ... as a sovereign independent nation in Europe," Stoltenberg added.

Ukraine becoming 'de facto' NATO member

Kuleba, for his part, said that Ukraine currently has the "strongest and the most battle-hardened army in Europe."

"We are increasing our interoperability with NATO. We are pretty much becoming a de facto NATO army in terms of our technical capacity management approaches and principles of running an army," Kuleba added.