Ukraine’s President Zelensky has reportedly told his top military commanders that Ukraine must win against Russia if it hopes to one day be admitted into NATO.
Russian state media has captured and translated key lines of the speech. “I believe that we will be in NATO only if we win. I don’t think that we will be admitted […] during the war,” Zelensky had said during a meeting with officers. Ukrainian sources also confirmed the remarks.
He admitted that as things currently stand, NATO leaders “feel the risks” while “others are simply skeptical.” The Ukrainian president continued, “Therefore, for Ukraine to be accepted into the alliance, we need victory.”
He further described that Ukraine’s independence can ultimately be permanently guaranteed by eventually becoming a full member of NATO.
From Brussels and Washington’s perspective, the idea of NATO membership for Kiev has been put on hold, despite the enthusiastic rhetoric of some hawkish officials in the West, given NATO’s Article 5 common defense treaty would mean it would trigger automatic war with Russia.
Read more: Zelensky Tells Commanders Ukraine Must Defeat Russia To Join NATO