The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, told the country’s diplomats this Sunday (22) that Ukraine’s membership in NATO, the Western military alliance, is “achievable”, but that the country will have to “fight for it”.
After repeated requests, NATO said Ukraine would one day join the alliance, but did not set a date or issue an official invitation.
Russia, in turn, cited the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO as one of the main justifications for the invasion against the country in 2022.
Kiev says adherence to the Western alliance’s mutual defense pact, or an equivalent form of security guarantee, is crucial to any peace plan to ensure Russia does not carry out attacks again.
“We all understand that joining NATO can only be a political decision,” Zelensky told diplomats at a meeting in Kiev.
“Membership is achievable, but it is only achievable if we fight for this decision at all necessary levels,” he added.
Zelensky further added that allies need to realize what Ukraine can bring to NATO and how its membership in the alliance would stabilize global relations.
Last week, Zelensky called on European countries to provide guarantees to protect Ukraine after the end of the war with Russia and stressed that Ukraine would ultimately need more protection through alliance membership.
Understand the war between Russia and Ukraine
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and entered the territory from three fronts: through the Russian border, through Crimea and through Belarus, a country that is a strong ally of the Kremlin.
Forces loyal to President Vladimir Putin made significant advances in the first few days, but the Ukrainians managed to maintain control of Kiev, even though the city was also attacked. The invasion was criticized internationally and the Kremlin was the target of Western economic sanctions.
In October 2024, after thousands of deaths, the war in Ukraine entered what analysts describe as its most dangerous moment yet.
Tensions rose when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the use of an intermediate-range hypersonic missile during an attack on Ukrainian soil. The projectile carried conventional warheads, but is capable of carrying nuclear material.
The launch took place after Ukraine launched an offensive inside Russian territory using weapons manufactured by Western powers, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and France.
Western intelligence reports that Russia is using North Korean troops in the conflict in Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang neither deny nor confirm the report.
President Vladimir Putin, who replaced his defense minister in May, has said that Russian forces are advancing much more effectively — and that Russia will achieve all of its objectives in Ukraine, although he did not elaborate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he believes Putin’s main goals are to occupy the entire Donbass region, encompassing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and to expel Ukrainian troops from Russia’s Kursk region, which they have controlled parts of since August. .
This content was originally published in Zelensky says Ukraine’s NATO membership is “attainable” on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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