Zelenskyy dismisses partial NATO entry talks, claims no signals received
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine has never received an invitation to join NATO, according to a statement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the press conference.
According to him, Ukraine's entry into NATO is the most powerful means of support for Ukraine.
"But we are not invited to NATO. And signals regarding partial participation, frankly speaking, are just nonsense. Why? We have never received such an offer. Never from any of the partners. And honestly, it's hard to imagine how it could be," Zelenskyy says.
He notes that Ukraine's entry into NATO "piecemeal" carries a high risk and threatens a direct conflict between the Alliance and Russia since Kyiv does not recognize the territories occupied by Russia.
"What if a part of Ukraine is in NATO? I think this poses great risks for us. Putin will enter, and a war with NATO will begin. And the question is, will NATO countries fight for a part of Ukrainian territory that gains some status within NATO? But we do not recognize the territories occupied by Russia," the president says.
He also states that no one has invited Ukraine to join NATO.
Ukraine's entry into NATO
On September 30, 2022, it became known that Ukraine applied for accelerated NATO membership. Ukraine expected to receive an invitation to join NATO during the summer summit in Vilnius, but it did not happen.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasizes that Ukraine will not be able to join the Alliance until active combat operations cease.
Ukraine received recommendations from NATO regarding its accession. This occurred following the Ukraine-NATO Council, a meeting that took place in Brussels on November 29. The recommendations concern initial reforms for joining the Alliance.
