We understand that Article 5 cannot apply throughout the country — Zelensky on Ukraine in NATO

The best security guarantees for Ukraine are membership in the EU and NATO, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. He acknowledges that if Ukraine joins NATO, Article 5 on collective defense may not apply to the entire territory during the war. However, Ukraine will not accept a partial invitation to NATO.

This was reported by Rubryka following a briefing after Zelensky's meeting with the new European Union leadership.

"The best security guarantees for us are NATO. We also have economic security guarantees. These are two fundamental requirements—EU and NATO membership—regardless of any future diplomatic paths to end the war," Zelensky stated.

He emphasized that NATO cannot extend an invitation to only part of Ukraine's territory, as this would effectively recognize the occupied areas as Russian.

"Parts of Ukraine's territory cannot be invited to NATO. That would imply automatic recognition of the remaining territories as non-Ukrainian and at risk, which Ukraine will never agree to," Zelensky said.

He reiterated that Ukraine will never legally recognize Russian occupation. NATO membership, he added, is the best guarantee of security.

"If there is an invitation, it must include all of Ukraine's territory. That said, we understand that Article 5 cannot fully apply during wartime due to the risk of involving other nations in the conflict. However, Ukraine has never drawn NATO armies into this war," Zelensky explained.

He emphasized that various formats for Ukraine's NATO membership are being discussed, but Ukraine has yet to receive any specific proposals from international partners.

"Many different formats regarding NATO have been speculated about in the press and media, but we have not received any of these 'umbrella' options, any formats from our partners," Zelensky noted.

He also stated, "I will never ask to send foreign troops to our territory."

"Do we want it? Of course, we would be happy. Because they (the Russians) are allies with North Korea and Iran, and we are at war ourselves.

But if I raise the issue of whether we need your troops, with or without NATO, half of our allies would immediately stop their support. That's why I cannot take such risks," the president added.

Earlier, President Zelensky stated in an interview with Sky News that NATO membership could help end the hot phase of the war with Russia. He emphasized that the borders of Ukraine must be clearly defined in the invitation itself.

"If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to bring the territory of Ukraine under our control under the NATO umbrella. We need to do it quickly. And then Ukraine will be able to return the occupied territories through diplomacy," the president added.

However, no international partners have officially proposed such an option yet.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged Western partners to formally invite Ukraine to NATO during the upcoming December 3-4 meeting in Brussels at the ministerial level.

While NATO maintains that its door remains open for Ukraine, it has refrained from setting a clear timetable for membership, stressing that it cannot happen before the end of the war.

Several influential members, notably the US and Germany, oppose rapid accession. Additionally, with the upcoming return of Donald Trump to the Oval Office, there are concerns that Ukraine's NATO membership may be delayed for several more years.