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President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine must defeat Russia in a war to join NATO. Photo/REUTERS
KYIV – President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine must defeat Russia on the battlefield in order to be accepted as a new member of NATO.
NATO, the military alliance led by the United States (US), has previously made it clear that Kyiv cannot become a member while fighting is still ongoing.
“I believe we will become members of NATO only if we win. I don’t think that we will be accepted into NATO during the war,” Zelensky said at a meeting with a group of Ukrainian military officers in Kyiv, as reported Russia TodayThursday (2/5/2024).
He explained that Ukraine’s attempt to join NATO would require unanimous approval from the alliance’s 32 members.
Some NATO members are reluctant to accept Ukraine amid the ongoing war against Russia. “Because they feel the risk, while others are just skeptical,” said Zelensky.
“Therefore, for Ukraine to be accepted into the alliance, we need a victory,” he said.
He added that membership would ultimately guarantee Ukraine’s security and independence.
Ukraine officially applied to join NATO in September 2022. Although NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and individual members agreed that Ukraine should one day be part of NATO, Kyiv has not been given a concrete timetable.
