Countries at war cannot join NATO: German FM

NATO cannot discuss new members joining the alliance that are in the middle of war, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Thursday, reported dpa.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine "has further intensified cooperation" between NATO and Ukraine, Baerbock said, stressing that the alliance has an open-door policy to admit new members.

Baerbock noted that NATO's admission of Finland, and "the hopefully very soon" accession of Sweden to the alliance underlines this principle.

"At the same time it is also clear that in the middle of a war, we cannot talk about a newer membership," the German foreign minister said, referencing Ukraine's application for admission.