NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday announced the start of the process of ratification of the protocols on the accession of Sweden and Finland to the alliance.

The open part of the meeting at the alliance's headquarters before the signing of the accession protocols was broadcast on the NATO website. The ceremony is attended by Foreign Ministers of Sweden and Finland Ann Linde and Pekka Haavisto.

According to Stoltenberg, NATO's doors remain open to European countries that are ready to contribute to ensuring common security. It is expected that after signing the accession protocols for Sweden and Finland will be submitted for ratification by all members of the North Atlantic Alliance. According to media reports, this process may take several months.