NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the key issue is not Sweden and Finland joining the Alliance together, but that this process takes place as soon as possible.
Stoltenberg told reporters on Tuesday on the eve of the NATO ministerial meeting.
He reminded that, as of now, 28 of the 30 member states of the Alliance have ratified the protocols on the accession of Sweden and Finland, which is "the fastest process of accession to NATO in its entire history."
"As invited states, Finland and Sweden are increasingly integrated into NATO's military and civilian structures, participate in our meetings and consultations. They are now in a completely different position than before the decision to join," NATO Secretary General added.
Stoltenberg later noted that "the question is not whether Sweden and Finland will ratify the accession protocols together."
"The question is that these protocols are ratified as soon as possible. And I am sure that they will become full members of NATO, and I am working hard to make this happen as soon as possible", - concluded the top official of the Alliance.
Finland and Sweden applied for membership after Russia invaded Ukraine last year and said they wanted to join at the same time.
Ankara said this month it supported Finland's bid but wanted Stockholm to take a tougher stance on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Turkey and the European Union consider a terrorist group.
Turkey suspended talks last month amid rising tensions following protests in Stockholm in which a far-right Danish politician burned a copy of the Koran. Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán announced in November 2022 that the country's parliament would ratify the two countries' NATO membership early this year.