NATO allies have poured at least $8 billion in military aid to Ukraine, with the alliance to continue the support, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed on Thursday.

At a joint press conference in Brussels with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Stoltenberg said that NATO allies have "stepped up their support to Ukraine and up to date NATO allies have pledged and provided at least 8 billion US dollars in military support to Ukraine."

"We see the importance of further stepping up our support to Ukraine," he added.

Stoltenberg was invited for the first time to meet the members of the Conference of Presidents, one of the governing bodies of the European Parliament.

NATO to guarantee security of Finland & Sweden during interim period

NATO will find "arrangements" to guarantee the security of Finland and Sweden during the interim period until they become full members of the alliance if they apply to join it, the Secretary-General pointed out.

"As soon as we take the decision to invite them, that will send a strong political message that the security of Finland and Sweden matters for all NATO allies," he said.

"I am also certain that we will be able to find arrangements for that interim period between Finland and Sweden applies and until the formal ratification is finalized in all 30 parliaments," Stoltenberg told a press conference.