Zelenskyy: If Ukraine is not in NATO, then Alliance should be on Ukrainian territory
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
An alternative to Ukraine's accession to NATO is the deployment of NATO troops on Ukrainian territory. At the same time, Ukraine should have an army similar in size to Russia's, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says in an interview with The Guardian.
According to the President, Ukraine does not support the use of United Nations troops as a military contingent in Ukraine after full-scale Russia's war.
“We are in favor of the contingent if it is part of the security guarantees, I emphasize that without America it is impossible, without America, security guarantees are not security guarantees in full, as they should be,” he explained.
Zelenskyy noted that there should be a military contingent, but Ukraine's integration into NATO is the cheapest option.
“If we are not in NATO, then NATO should be in Ukraine. Russia's army has 1.5 million troops in 2025. Ukraine's army should be at least 1.5 million. We need 1.5 million. We have 1 million, will they give us 500 thousand? There are no such numbers in Europe,” he said.
According to the President, Ukraine should have an army like Russia's. At the same time, it needs to be not only financed but also armed. Although US President Donald Trump does not like the idea of Ukraine's integration into the Alliance, Kyiv still agrees that at least 5% of GDP should be spent on defense.
“Europe already needs this - to increase production, the quantitative and qualitative composition of its army. That's why Macron's idea (Emmanuel Macron, French President - ed.), I say, if it's a part of it, yes, if there are 100-150,000 military from Europe, yes. But still, we will not reach the number of troops that is opposite (in Russia, ed.),” he explained.
Sending troops to Ukraine issue
Macron initiated the issue of sending troops to Ukraine. Initially, his words sparked a lively discussion among other member states, but some supported his words.
According to media reports, the issue of the presence of European troops in Ukraine will be the main topic of discussion during the Munich Security Conference.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that the United States has no plans to send its military.
