Ukraine has made it clear that it will not be able to join NATO. And the Ukrainian people are also beginning to understand this.
This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an online speech to the leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) - the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson and the leaders of the Baltic States and Northern Europe.
According to the President, Ukraine is aware that it will not be able to become a member of NATO.
“For years we have heard about the allegedly "open door". But we have already heard that we cannot not enter [the Alliance] (LB.ua). And this is true and it must be acknowledged. I am glad that our people are beginning to understand this and count on themselves and our partners who help us," – he said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also added that Ukraine did not claim to activate Article 5 of the NATO agreement (an attack on a NATO member is considered an attack on the entire Alliance), as "NATO lacks self-confidence."
"Ukraine has not yet claimed to activate Article 5 of the NATO agreement. And we are not saying that our skies need to be protected in the same way as the Alliance skies,” - he said. “But what will be NATO's response to Allies in Eastern Europe if they seek protection? If Russian missiles and planes fly to them? Russia attacked our Lviv region - a missile strike 20 kilometers from NATO borders. Russian drones have already fallen on Alliance territory. So, in order for Article 5 to work, there must be confidence. Of each state. Confidence that the Alliance will not be afraid to react. That there will be no self-hypnosis about the Third World War. There can be no such confidence now. "
According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine has proposed a way to protect its skies and its people.
"To defend ourselves. On our own! Hear this word, all those who have borders with Russia. And we do everything to get planes. To get air defense,” – he added. “We emphasize that new formats of interaction are needed. A new determination is needed. If we cannot enter NATO's "open door", we must work with groups like yours. And have some guarantees. Reliable guarantees ".
Earlier, on March 8, the Polish government approved the transfer of its MiG-29 aircrafts claimed by Ukraine to the United States. The fighter aircrafts were to be transferred to the US military base Ramstein in Germany, and from there transferred to Ukraine.
Instead, the United States said it didn’t not consider Poland's proposal tenable. "The prospect of fighter aircragts at the disposal of the US government leaving the US-NATO base in Germany and flying to Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, is a matter of concern to the entire Alliance," said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.
Earlier, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that the United States does not object to the transfer of the aircrafts to Ukraine.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the US decision to deny Ukraine the transfer of Polish MiG-29 fighter aircraftswas was made personally by President Biden, who vetoed the delivery of aircrafts so as not to provoke Vladimir Putin to escalate the war.