Sunak declares in Lithuania that Ukraine’s ‘rightful place’ is in NATO and urges allies to make ‘progress’ – London Business News | London Wallet

The British Prime Minister has said that Ukraine’ “right place” is in NATO, but the country cannot join “whilst they are” at war as this would drag the alliance directly into conflict with Russia.

Rishi Sunak said that the UK will continue to provide support to Ukraine “for as long as it takes” and added that the West must let Vladimir Putin know he cannot wait it out.

During the two-day summit in Lithuania Sunak is urging NATO allies to make “demonstrable progress” and set out when Ukraine can join the alliance.

The British Prime Minister told reporters, “There is no point in just waiting out the West, and not just the West but the alliance of people that have formed to support Ukraine.

“Everyone is in it for the long haul and any thought he had that it would be over quickly has already proved to be false.

“He thought it would be all done and dusted in a few days.

“We need to make sure he realises that support is here to stay and the quicker he realises that, hopefully he changes his calculation about continuing with what is an illegal and unprovoked aggression.”

Sunak then outlined the UK’s position, he told reporters, “Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO and we stand by the language of Bucharest in 2008.

“I think that what is important at this summit is that commitment is reaffirmed and also there is demonstrable progress towards that goal and I think that’s what you will see.”