Zelenskyy: I told Trump that Ukraine would either have nuclear weapons or join NATO

"I spoke with Trump about NATO because there were different signals in the media regarding NATO and Ukraine's membership in NATO. I used the example of the Budapest Memorandum. I think it's a clear example," Zelenskyy explained.

He reminded that Ukraine had the Budapest Memorandum, signed with participation from nuclear powers, the world's largest states that, as the president noted, have influence and nuclear weapons.

"Among these countries were undoubtedly major players with nuclear potential. Why was the condition for Ukraine to give up its nuclear weapons? Ukraine had a very large amount at that time. Give up nuclear weapons, and in return, this document — and the partners involved — guaranteed the territorial integrity and sovereignty of an independent Ukraine within internationally recognized borders as of 1991. And if Russia violated this document, even though it was a guarantor of the memorandum, how can one trust this document? How can one trust all the partners who guaranteed the preservation of our territorial integrity and sovereignty?" the president emphasized.

Zelenskyy then explained that this document simply doesn't work, just as other agreements signed with Russia also don't work.

"Do the agreements of other major partners with the Russian Federation work? No, they don’t. So, it wasn't just an agreement between Ukraine and Russia, but between Ukraine and all its partners. In general, all these agreements failed. Which of these major countries, all the nuclear powers, suffered? All of them? No. Only one — Ukraine. Who gave up nuclear weapons? Everyone? No. Only one — Ukraine. Who is fighting today? Ukraine. That’s how it turns out for us," he remarked.

In conclusion, the President of Ukraine explained that Ukrainians have two options in this situation.

"And that's why, in the conversation with Donald Trump, I told him: 'This is how it is for us. So, what is the solution? Either Ukraine has nuclear weapons, which would be our protection, or we must have some kind of alliance. Apart from NATO, we do not see any effective alliances today. NATO countries are not at war. NATO countries are not fighting. People in NATO countries are all alive, thank God,'" he emphasized.

Therefore, according to Zelenskyy, Ukraine chooses NATO over nuclear weapons.

"We choose NATO, not nuclear weapons. We choose NATO. And I believe Donald Trump heard me. He said: 'Your arguments are fair.' I don’t want to go deep into the dialogue with Donald Trump because it was between him and me. But I said we talked about NATO, and it was exactly as I said. I presented my arguments, and he agreed with them," the president concluded.

Yesterday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a five-point victory plan for Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada.

The first point is an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO.

Furthermore, Zelenskyy explained today what will happen if partners do not support the victory plan.