Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky underscores that Ukraine’s path to NATO membership is intricately linked to achieving victory in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
Zelensky conveyed this perspective during talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and a cohort of military personnel undergoing NATO-standard training, as reported by European Truth.
NATO Aspirations Post-Conflict Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s integration into the North Atlantic Alliance is likely contingent upon resolution of the conflict, citing it as a significant barrier to membership.
“In my personal opinion, we will join NATO only when we win. I don’t believe we will be accepted into NATO during a time of war. For some, it poses a risk to NATO members; for others, there is simply skepticism,” stated the head of state in a video shared on his Telegram channel. “The question of NATO, as Secretary General Stoltenberg rightly pointed out, is a matter of majority decision. This is fundamentally a political issue. For Ukraine to be politically accepted into the Alliance, achieving victory is necessary,” he elaborated.
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Zelensky also reflected on historical dynamics, suggesting that Ukraine’s exclusion from NATO contributed to the current conflict.
He accused Russia of exerting influence on certain NATO members to thwart Ukraine’s NATO and EU aspirations, with the aim of maintaining Russian dominance and impeding Ukrainian progress.
Insights from NATO Secretary General In a recent address to the Verkhovna Rada, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg commended the resilience of the Ukrainian military against Russian aggression but refrained from speculating on the timeline for Ukraine’s NATO accession.
During an earlier meeting with President Zelensky, discussions encompassed NATO’s pledge of a 100 billion-dollar special fund to bolster support for Ukraine, among other key topics.
