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Ukraine must 'build NATO on its territory' if not invited to alliance, Zelensky says

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Ukraine must 'build NATO on its territory' if not invited to alliance, Zelensky says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech in front of the first General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon received by Ukraine on Aug. 4, 2024. (Ukrainian Presidency/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Ukraine is not giving up on its NATO aspirations, but if denied an invitation to the alliance, it "must build NATO on its territory" by strengthening the military, President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Economist in an interview published on Feb. 12.

"We have to double it. Double. To be on the same level as the Russian army," Zelensky said.

Ukraine officially applied to join NATO in September 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion. While NATO members asserted at the 2024 summit in Washington, D.C., that Ukraine's path to membership is "irreversible," they have yet to extend a formal invitation.

Zelensky acknowledged in the interview that Ukraine's accession to NATO is unlikely due to opposition from the U.S., Germany, and Hungary, but believes the latter would change its mind if U.S. President Donald Trump asked.

He believes Trump could provide security guarantees to Ukraine without even having to discuss them with Russia and that Europe could help finance Ukraine's defense, with "missiles, long-distance missiles and Patriot (air-defense systems).”

When asked whether he had a plan B if all of the above did not work out, Zelensky replied, "This is plan B."

Ukraine has relied on NATO member states for military aid in its defense against Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukraine regularly holds visits and summits with NATO leaders.

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Kateryna Hodunova

News Editor

Kateryna Hodunova is a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked as a sports journalist in several Ukrainian outlets and was the deputy chief editor at Suspilne Sport. Kateryna covered the 2022 Olympics in Beijing and was included in the Special Mentions list at the AIPS Sport Media Awards. She holds a bachelor's degree in political journalism from Taras Shevchenko University and a master's degree in political science from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

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