The US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, has told CNN that Ukraine joining Nato now “would mean war with Russia” during a media round where he expressed support for the alliance’s caution.

Speaking to MSNBC, Sullivan said US president Joe Biden will be “straightforward” with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who are due to meet today.

On Tuesday, Zelenskiy said he had faith but not confidence in Nato decisions and said not offering Ukraine membership to the alliance would be “absurd”

Sullivan added that Biden will given Zelenskiy the rationale for Nato’s decision on Ukraine’s membership.

/The Guardian