Ukraine could potentially join NATO even if parts of its territory remained occupied by Russia, the alliance's former Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview on Oct. 4. One of the main arguments against granting Ukraine membership at the current time is that NATO's Article 5 mutual defense clause would immediately draw the alliance into a direct war with Russia.

Jens Stoltenberg admitted that if Ukraine had received more weapons before the war, it might have prevented the conflict. "I take my part of the responsibility," stated the former NATO Secretary General in an interview with the "Financial Times.