German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday that Ukraine and its allies are still “very far” from being able to secure peace in the country, but added that any future Western security guarantees for Ukraine must be different from the status of European NATO members, Reuters reports.

Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Olaf ScholtzPhoto: Christoph Soeder / AFP / Profimedia

“Given the current situation, it is not about establishing membership… We should all focus on how we as individuals can support Ukraine,” Scholz said at a press conference during the second meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Moldova. .

Asked about possible security guarantees, Scholz added: “They should be designed in such a way as to provide Ukraine with the necessary security against the threat of attack, while at the same time stabilizing Ukraine … and of course, this is always part of a security guarantee so that it is taken seriously.”

Earlier on Thursday, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, advocated Ukraine’s accession to the NATO military alliance and called on NATO members to make a clear decision on Ukraine’s accession to the transatlantic alliance.