Stoltenberg on Ukraine Nato membership: "Not the question of if, but when" Stoltenberg said that Ukraine’s membership to Nato is not a “question of if, but when.” “As Ukraine continues its vital reforms, we will continue to support them on the irreversible path to Nato membership. The work we are doing together now will ensure that when the time is right, Ukraine can join without delay. It is not a question of if, but when,” he said. “In this dangerous world, friends and partners are more important than ever,” he added. Following months of training and negotiations, the first F-16 fighter jets are heading to Ukraine. The Guardian’s Dan Sabbagh reports: The first F-16 fighter jets are on their way to Ukraine and will be flying sorties this summer, according to a statement from the Dutch and Danish governments that was released by the White House at the Nato summit. Dick Schoof, the prime minister of the Netherlands, and Mette Frederiksen, his counterpart from Denmark, said the “transfer process” of F-16s to Kyiv was under way after months of pilot training and political negotiations. The two leaders said that “Ukraine will be flying operational F-16s this summer” – the first of about 85 of the combat aircraft that have been committed to Kyiv to turn around its fortunes on the battlefield, and Ukraine signalled more may be to come. The long-awaited supply of F-16s is part of what Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said would be “a substantial package” of support for Ukraine, which includes the donation of four Patriot air defence systems, Nato-led training for Ukraine’s troops – and a commitment that Kyiv’s eventual path to Nato membership is “irreversible”. Stoltenberg answered a question on the potential reversal of Ukraine’s possible membership to Nato, saying: “Surely, if a country goes back on reforms, reneges on commitments, by definition, it is going backwards. It is reversing its path. That’s not to say that’s what Ukraine is doing now, but surely you can’t rule out in the future… Words are important, and words create expectation, create an agenda, define an ambition. But of course, as important as words, the language in the declaration is actually what we then have agreed to do. So in many ways, action speaks at least as loudly as words… The Nato doctrines also help them to move closer to membership. We have…agreed to establish a new joint analysis and training center in Poland that will help us to to move closer. And of course, the fact that allies are, for instance, delivering F16s and many other types of weapons… These are all concrete actions that will bring [Ukraine closer to Nato membership].” Speaking on the opening of a Nato office in Amman, Jordan, Stoltenberg said: “This marks a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between Jordan and Nato. This is an issue that I also discussed last time King Abdullah visited Nato… By establishing the Nato…office, we are bringing this partnership to a new level.” “It also demonstrates that Nato actually addresses the threats and the challenges, but also the opportunities that emanate from the Middle East, from North Africa. Of course, we see terrorist threats, we see instability, but we also see opportunities, working more closely with our partners, including Jordan,” he added. Speaking on the latest Nato communique defining China’s role in Russia’s war in Ukraine, Stoltenberg said: “The declaration we have agreed today is the strongest message Nato allies ever sent on China’s contributions to Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine. So that in itself is a strong message,” he said. Speaking on Ukraine’s military response to Russia’s aggression, Stoltenberg said: “According to international law, Ukraine has the right for self defense. We are helping them to uphold the right of self defense by delivering weapons, ammunition, missiles,” he said. “The right of self defense includes the right to strike legitimate military targets on the territory of the aggressor, Russia,” he added. Stoltenberg: "I expect the US to remain a staunch...important Nato ally" “I expect the US to remain a staunch and of course, important Nato ally,” Stoltenberg said. “Just by the fact that United States is by far the biggest ally, I expect that for at least three reasons. One is that it is in the security interest of the United States to have a strong Nato. The United States becomes stronger and safer with NATO than without… The second reason why I expect that the United States will remain a loyal ally is that there is broad bipartisan support in it,” said Stoltenberg, adding that he has met with US House and Senate leaders who have all showed “strong bipartisan support for Nato.” “The third reason is that the main criticism from former president Trump, but also from other US presidents, has not primarily been against Nato. It has been against Nato allies not investing enough in Nato… The clear message has had an impact, because now allies are really stepping up,” he said. “The message from the United States has been understood and allies have acted,” he added. Stoltenberg has accused China of being an “enabler” of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. “China is a decisive enabler of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine… China provides dual-use equipment, micro electronics, a lot of other tools which are enabling Russia to build the missiles, to build the bombs, to build the aircraft, to build the weapons they’re using to attack Ukraine and the fact that this is now clearly stated, agreed by all Nato allies, is an important message to China,” he said. “I think the message sent from Nato, from this summit, is very strong and very clear, and we are clearly defining China’s responsibility when it comes to enabling Russia’s war aggression against Ukraine,” he added. Stoltenberg on Ukraine Nato membership: "Not the question of if, but when" Stoltenberg said that Ukraine’s membership to Nato is not a “question of if, but when.” “As Ukraine continues its vital reforms, we will continue to support them on the irreversible path to Nato membership. The work we are doing together now will ensure that when the time is right, Ukraine can join without delay. It is not a question of if, but when,” he said. “In this dangerous world, friends and partners are more important than ever,” he added. Speaking of the new military pledges, Stoltenberg said, “This will not make Nato party to the conflict, but it will help Ukraine to uphold its right to self-defense.” “We also agreed a financial pledge helping Ukraine to build a force capable of defeating Russian aggression today and deterring it tomorrow. We have agreed that 40 billion euros is a minimum baseline within the next year and to ensure sustainable funding for Ukraine prevails,” he added. “Today, allies has agreed a pledge that will strengthen transatlantic defense, industrial cooperation to boost production,” said Stoltenberg. He went on to add that Nato allies have agreed to strengthen air and missile defenses. “We will take over the coordination and provision of most of the international security assistance to Ukraine, with a command led by a three-star general and around 700 personnel working at Nato headquarters in Germany and at hubs in the eastern part of the alliance to provide the support to Ukraine,” he added. Jens Stoltenberg has arrived at the podium and is speaking to reporters. “We have employed combat-ready forced on Nato’s eastern flank…the most comprehensive defense plan since the Cold War,” he said. “All of this has been made possible by historic increases in defense investment across the alliance,” he added. Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg is set to deliver a press conference shortly at the Nato summit in Washington DC. Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates. The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, took a break from Nato meetings in Washington to watch the England v Netherlands semi-final with his Dutch counterpart, Dick Schoof, just in time to catch that absolutely beautiful equaliser from Harry Kane.