German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday rejected Ukraine's request to immediately join NATO, made by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy when he presented his "Victory Plan" to Western allies, Paralel.Az reports citing AFP.

"It is important to realise that a country at war absolutely cannot become a member of NATO," Scholz told public broadcaster ZDF. "Everyone knows that, there is no disagreement on this subject."

The German leader added that for the trans-Atlantic defence alliance, "an invitation is normally quite quickly linked to membership".

Scholz said that in the past "we have described a perspective" towards Ukrainian membership in the longer term, at NATO summits in Vilnius last year, then in Washington this summer.

"But I think that beyond that, there is currently no need for any new decision," he said.