01 December 2024

Zelensky says Ukraine NATO invitation necessary for 'survival' | AFP

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Zelenskyy says Kyiv needs NATO for survival

12/01/2024 
December 1, 2024
in News 





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President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky insists that his country's invitation to NATO is necessary for her to survive in the fight against Russian aggression
  • The Ukrainian leader said this on Sunday, December 1, at a press conference in Kiev after a meeting with the new leadership of the European Union.
At the same time, Zelensky emphasized that any invitation join the alliance should extend to the entire territory of Ukraine. 
  • According to him, in case of joining NATO only parts of the territories the Ukrainian state would actually recognize that the remaining parts are no longer its territory.
"Therefore, Ukraine will never do that. We never legally recognize temporarily occupied territories as Russian. These are exclusively our lands,"
the head of state explained.

NATO umbrella may extend to the free territory of Ukraine
At the same time, he agreed that in the context of the ongoing war, the 5th article of the North Atlantic Treaty cannot operate in the occupied territories of Ukraine, since NATO countries are "against the risks of involving them in the war." 
  • "Ukraine has never drawn anyone into this war, I mean the armies of NATO members," Zelensky added, allowing Ukraine to join NATO without the operation of the 5th article during the war, which considers the attack on one NATO member by an attack on all its members.
He also called on the US to convince skeptics in Europe, the need to invite Kiev to NATO. According to him, there is still time for this.
"NATO guarantees and weapons are needed before negotiations with Russia"

The Ukrainian president indicated that his country needed security guarantees from NATO and more weapons for defense before negotiations with Russia. 

"Only when we have all this and we become strong, then we must draw up a very important ... agenda for meeting one or another of the killers," Zelensky said.


Antonio Costa and Vladimir Zelensky Photo: Alina Smutko / REUTERS

During a meeting between the President of Ukraine and the newly elected President of the European Council Antonio Costa the general vision of European and global issues was discussed, in particular “relevant problems and prospects”, Zelensky wrote on social networks. Himself visit of the European delegation Zelensky called "symbolic", reflecting "priorities for all of us in Europe."
He expressed gratitude to the new chairman of the European Council for supporting Ukraine from the first day of the Russian full-scale invasion.

On the same day, Zelensky held a separate meeting with the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaye Callas. According to Zelensky, 
  • it was primarily about "the need for air defense systems to protect life in Ukraine." 

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