Zelenskyy: Ukraine needs NATO, but membership is not yet achievable

Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, 2023. Photo: Office of the President

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine should be part of NATO, as it is an important and beneficial ally for the Alliance. At the same time, he acknowledged that joining NATO is not possible at the moment.

He said this in an interview with Sky News.

According to the head of state, the Alliance will only benefit from partnership with Ukraine. After all, the country has not only weapons that meet NATO standards, but also modern technologies that some members still do not have. All this, according to Zelenskyy, significantly enhances the defence capability of the bloc.

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The President also reminded that Ukraine has a decade of war experience - not only on the battlefield, but also in the economy, cybersecurity, banking system and energy sector. Therefore, he stressed, our country's membership in NATO is not just a prospect, but a mutually beneficial necessity.

«It is not just about the battlefield. It is also about the economy, survival, cyber attacks, the banking system, the energy sector,» Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

At the same time, he noted that joining the Alliance is impossible now. He also criticised the slow growth of defence spending among NATO member states amid threats from Russia.

In addition, the president expressed hope for a meeting with Donald Trump during the NATO summit to be held in The Hague on Tuesday and Wednesday.

As a reminder, Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans said that the country hosting the June NATO summit is working on the possibility of inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to participate in the event. At the same time, the Ukrainian leader's participation is unlikely to include his presence at the plenary session with the leaders of the 32 member states.

Brekelmans noted that the President of Ukraine is always a welcome guest for the Netherlands, although the format of participation has not yet been finalised. He also confirmed that the prospect of Ukraine's membership in NATO remains «irreversible», despite the US reservations.

As a reminder, the White House has submitted a proposal to the US State Department for large-scale spending cuts, which could lead to the actual cessation of funding for organisations such as NATO, the UN and about 20 other international institutions.

It should also be noted that earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine does not recognise the loss of its territories, but is ready for diplomatic solutions to return them if it becomes a NATO member.

Earlier, Andrzej Duda met with newly elected President Karol Nawrocki. One of the topics discussed was Ukraine's accession to NATO.