Joe Biden, the US president, on Sunday told CNN NATO could discuss Ukraine’s membership only after the end of its ongoing conflict with Russia. 

“Ukraine is not yet ready for NATO membership”, he said ahead of the alliance’s Vilnius summit on July 11. 

Biden pledged Washington would continue to supply weapons and provide security to Ukraine, as it did in the case of Israel, adding he would discuss the issues with president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

Last week Zelenskyy called on Biden to invite Ukraine to NATO, claiming the US president “is a decision-maker”. 

He added he understood Kyiv was unable to become a member of NATO until the end of the war, “but it is important to feel that you will be with the allies in the future”.