Zelenskyy: Ukraine’s NATO membership must remain on table in peace talks
Photo: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (president.gov.ua)
The issue of Ukraine's potential NATO membership cannot be excluded from the negotiation process on ending the war. Additionally, ending the war in Ukraine could lead to a situation similar to Afghanistan in 2021, stated President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with ARD.
He recalled the rushed withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan in 2021 and spoke out against a negotiation strategy in which key demands are abandoned before talks even begin.
Referring to statements from the US administration that Ukraine will not become a NATO member, Zelenskyy said, "You can't just take this off the table. That's not how it works. I don’t think anyone is interested in an Afghanistan 2.0."
He was referring to the agreement on the withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan, which was negotiated by US President Donald Trump and implemented by Joe Biden. This led to a chaotic military exit from the country, while the Taliban swiftly took control of Kabul after decades of fighting, effectively seizing power.
According to Zelenskyy, the "lack of respect for human life" at the time resulted in a tragedy.
"So, there is experience of what happens when someone ends something without thinking it through and retreats very quickly," he said.
Ukraine's accession to NATO
Ukraine expected to receive an official invitation to join NATO at the summit in Washington in July 2024, but this did not happen. The authorities insist on a clear timetable for accession, but the Alliance says that membership is possible only after the war is over.
US President Donald Trump and Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth expressed skepticism about Ukraine's prospects for joining NATO. At the same time, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius criticized these statements, viewing them as concessions to Russia before the start of negotiations.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, if Ukraine is not in NATO, then the Alliance should be on Ukrainian territory. He said that an alternative to Ukraine's accession to NATO is the deployment of NATO troops on Ukrainian territory. At the same time, the country should have an army that is similar in size to Russia's.
