Ukraine needs 1.5 million-strong army without NATO membership – Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that if Ukraine does not join NATO, it needs a 1.5 million-strong army.

He stated this during a conversation with journalists at the Munich Security Conference.

"I think we should be aware of where we are. Today's America and President Trump are not ready to talk about NATO; that is, they are talking about it openly. It seems to me that you and I read approximately the same resources, and this is open information.

They believe that Ukraine cannot be in NATO because this is an escalation with the Russians. They believe that NATO in the Constitution is the main factor in the occupation of Ukraine," Zelensky stressed.

At the same time, he added that NATO membership is the most acceptable option for Ukraine's security and the "cheapest." After all, for security outside NATO, Ukraine would need a 1.5 million-strong army.

"If we are not in NATO, and I am openly saying this, then Ukraine should build with Europe (because it is essential that the majority of Europeans realize this); if we are not in NATO or until we are in NATO, this means that we will have the opportunity to defend ourselves with the army that is capable of doing this. That is, this is the appropriate NATO weapons and the appropriate number of our Ukrainian soldiers.

But what is this number? Well, I am simply telling you the figures that we understand with all the military, that is, it will be an army of one and a half million," Zelensky noted.

He added that the Ukrainian army is currently smaller, and if the enemy has 220 combat brigades, then Ukraine needs the same number.

"They have 220, we have 110 combat brigades today. That is, we need 220. And if 40 billion in subsidies are in our budget today, and now we need to increase it at least 1.5 times, that is, 60 billion every year. Who, where will it come from?

The question is, what kind of security guarantees are these? What configuration?" Zelensky emphasized.

He also informed us that the military is discussing the issue of deploying not peacekeeping forces but a military contingent.

"If there is a really serious contingent, then we understand in what quantity and where it should be. That is, we are ready for any talks with America and with allies, and if there are specific answers from them, since there are specific requests from us and a general understanding of the dangerous Putin, then after that, we will be ready to talk with the Russians with our united understanding," Zelensky emphasized.

Answering the question about the next "red lines," the president once again emphasized that legally Ukraine will never recognize the occupied territories as Russian.

"Legally, we will never recognize these territories as "Russian" or "non-Russian," or something else. But today we are talking about the enemy Russia, so I simply say that these are Ukrainian territories, yes, and this is definitely a "red line," because this is the Constitution of Ukraine, this is our sovereignty. This can only be decided by the people of Ukraine and no one else," Zelensky emphasized.

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Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that if the doors of the Alliance "remain closed," then Ukraine must "build its own NATO" – that is, strengthen its army.

"We must double it [the army – ed.]. To be on par with the Russian army," the president said.

US Vice President J.D. Vance said on February 13 that if Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin does not agree to a peace agreement with Ukraine that would guarantee Kyiv's long-term independence, the United States will hit Russia with sanctions and, possibly, military action.