Oslo, 1 June 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Ukraine is ready to carry out a successful counteroffensive against Russia, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.

"I'm confident that Ukrainian forces now have the capabilities they need to liberate more occupied land," he said in a press conference in Oslo.

Stoltenberg was speaking at the end of a two-day NATO foreign ministers' meeting focused on new defence spending pledges, NATO's future relationship with Kiev, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The NATO chief stressed that the alliance must continue to support Ukraine for the long term, and highlighted again a multi-year package of funding and military aid for the country under preparation.

"This will ensure Ukraine’s deterrence and defence for the longer term," he said. Stoltenberg repeated his call for Ukraine to receive security guarantees once the war has ended.

Pressed for more details on the new measures expected at a NATO leaders' summit in Vilnius scheduled for July 11-12, United States Secretary of States Antony Blinken only said "Ukraine can anticipate a very robust package of both political and practical support."

NATO has displayed unity in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine but has yet to find common ground on giving the invaded country a path towards membership.

Blinken said the alliance discussed "strengthening the political relationship between NATO and Ukraine" with new cooperation institutions under consideration, while stressing the need for alliance consensus on admitting new members.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis called on the alliance to find a "very concrete answer as to how Ukraine is going to move closer to NATO and one day become a member of the alliance."

Some allies within NATO are hesitant to admit Ukraine, fearing a Russian response. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called on the alliance to end its ambiguous stance.

Tsahkna said NATO "must give a very strong message that there won't be any grey zones anymore" in regions that Russia considers under its influence.

Other issues relate to Ukraine's membership ambitions. NATO cannot discuss new members joining the alliance that are in the middle of war, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock pointed out.

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn was more blunt. "You know for the 75 years that NATO exists, no country at war has been admitted to the alliance," he said.

Ukraine is not the only country with frustrated NATO membership ambitions with Sweden's entry blocked by Hungary and Turkey.

Stoltenberg joined NATO's foreign ministers in heaping pressure on Ankara to let Sweden join the Western military alliance, stating that "Sweden has delivered" in meeting Turkey's conditions for entry.

The secretary general announced plans to visit Turkey to "ensure the fastest possible accession of Sweden" to the alliance ahead of the NATO leaders' summit in Vilnius.

Stoltenberg also highlighted that Sweden's new counterterrorism laws entered into force on Thursday as a demonstration that Stockholm was meeting Turkish concerns about fighting terrorism.

After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year, Sweden applied for NATO membership together with Finland in May 2022. Finland became the 31st member of the defence alliance in April.

Sweden's membership, however, is pending Turkish ratification due to a number of sticking points, including Ankara's concerns over what it says is a lack of cooperation in fighting terrorism.

Among other things, Turkey continues to block Swedish accession on the grounds that Sweden refuses to extradite people viewed by Ankara as terrorists.

Hungary, like Turkey, has also not yet ratified Sweden's NATO membership, with Budapest pointing to grievances with Sweden including EU budget funds.