NATO membership is the "cheapest" option for Ukraine’s allies — Zelensky
Photo: Rubryka
NATO membership remains a key element of Ukraine's security, and an 800,000-strong Ukrainian army would significantly strengthen the Alliance—especially if US President Donald Trump seeks to reduce America's military presence abroad.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this in an interview with the Associated Press.
According to Zelensky, any agreement with Russia without security guarantees from Ukraine's partners would only delay future aggression. He stressed that NATO membership is the most effective and cost-efficient solution for both Ukraine and its allies, as well as geopolitically beneficial for Trump.
"I really believe that these are the cheapest security guarantees that Ukraine can get, the cheapest for everyone…It will be a signal that it is not for Russia to decide who should be in NATO and who should not, but for the United States of America to decide. I think this is a great victory for Trump," Zelensky emphasized.
He also reiterated that an 800,000-strong Ukrainian army would be a valuable asset for NATO, particularly if Trump seeks to bring US troops home from overseas deployments.
Additionally, the President noted that alternative security guarantees should include sufficient arms supplies from the US and Europe, as well as support for Ukraine in developing its own defense industry.
Zelensky also addressed the French proposal for deploying European military forces in Ukraine to deter Russia's aggression. He confirmed that discussions are becoming more concrete, but many questions remain unresolved, including command structure, troop numbers, and operational authority.
"magine, there is a contingent. The question is who is in charge? Who is the main one? What will they do if there are Russian strikes? Missiles, disembarkation, attack from the sea, crossing of the land borderline, offensive. What will they do? What are their mandates?" Zelensky asked.
When questioned on whether he had directly raised these concerns with French President Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky replied, "We are still in the process of this dialogue."
Previous reports suggest that a potential Western peacekeeping mission in Ukraine could require around 100,000 troops.
It is also worth noting that President Zelensky has previously stated that US President Donald Trump could play a role in influencing Ukraine's NATO membership.
Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda continues to advocate for Ukraine's immediate invitation to join NATO, considering it the first step toward securing real security guarantees.
Zelensky has also warned that excluding Kyiv from negotiations between the US and Russia regarding the war in Ukraine would be a "very dangerous" scenario. He stressed that any such talks should not only involve the US and Russia but also include Ukraine and the European Union.
