Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg defiantly declared on Thursday that Ukraine deserves to join the military alliance and pledged continuing support for the country on his first visit to Kyiv since Russia's invasion just over a year ago.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Stoltenberg, who has been instrumental in marshalling support from Nato's members, to push for even more from them, including warplanes, artillery and armoured equipment.

The Kremlin has given various justifications for going to war but repeated on Thursday that preventing Ukraine from joining Nato was a key goal behind its invasion, arguing that Kyiv's membership in the alliance would pose an existential threat to Russia.

Nato leaders said in 2008 that Ukraine would join the alliance one day, and Stoltenberg has repeated that promise throughout the course of the war — though the organisation has established no pathway or timetable for membership.

“Let me be clear, Ukraine's rightful place is in the Euro-Atlantic family," Stoltenberg told a press conference.

“Ukraine's rightful place is in Nato.”

He said he and Zelensky discussed a Nato support programme.