Blinken: NATO Would Be Bigger, Stronger, More United with Sweden, Finland

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, Tuesday, that NATO will be stronger, bigger, and more united with Sweden and Finland.

During his interview with ABC News, Blinken expressed: "That sends a very strong message to Vladimir Putin that he's not going to outlast Ukraine, he's not going to outlast NATO."

Blinken is now with US President Joe Biden attending the two-day NATO summit in Lithuania.

In the same context, Ukraine is also pushing hard for NATO membership, however, Biden revealed that the European country is still not ready to join the alliance.

On the assurances that Ukraine may come out of the current summit, Blinken responded: "First, a very robust package of support both political and practical for Ukraine."

He added: "Second, when it comes to membership, I think the summit will take note of the progress that Ukraine has made, which has been significant."

"And at the same time, the fact that work remains to be done in terms of reforming its military and strengthening its democracy. So all of that will be coming out of the summit. But you've got a unified alliance that is going to demonstrate in very practical ways its enduring support for Ukraine, including the path to membership."