Zelensky says kyiv’s NATO membership ‘feasible’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday (December 22) that membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was “achievable” for Ukraine, but stressed that kyiv must work hard to persuade its allies to make it a reality.

Speaking to Ukrainian diplomats in kyiv, Zelensky reiterated his country’s desire to join the Western military alliance, which has so far pledged that Ukraine will one day join, but has not provided no timetable or formal invitation.

An “achievable” goal?

“We all understand that inviting Ukraine to NATO and joining the alliance can only be a political decision,” Zelensky said. “The alliance for Ukraine is feasible, but it is only feasible if we fight for this decision at all necessary levels. »

Moscow has long opposed NATO expansion and has cited Ukraine’s potential membership as a key justification for its full-scale invasion in 2022. Kiev maintains that joining the NATO mutual defense pact NATO – or securing a similar security guarantee – is essential to any peace plan to ensure Russia cannot attack again.

Ukraine’s dependence on NATO for peace

Zelensky stressed that Ukraine’s allies must recognize what his country can bring to NATO and how its membership would promote global stability.

Last week, Zelensky urged European nations to provide security guarantees to Ukraine after the end of the war with Russia, while reiterating that NATO membership remains the ultimate form of protection.

Zelenskyy previously suggested that NATO membership of unoccupied parts of Ukraine could effectively end the “hot phase” of the war, providing security guarantees that would deter further Russian aggression.

Conversely, Russia has consistently cited Ukraine’s NATO aspirations as the main justification for its military actions, expressing its strong opposition to NATO’s eastward expansion.

Moscow has said any peace deal would require Ukraine’s neutrality and a formal renunciation of its NATO membership ambitions.

This fundamental disagreement continues to complicate truce negotiations.

With the contribution of agencies