Ukraine has filed an expedited application to join NATO, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said following a meeting of the National Security and Defence Council.
"Today, here in Kyiv, in the heart of our country, we are taking a decisive step for the security of the entire community of free nations. We see who threatens us. Who is ready to kill and maim. Who in order to expand his zone of control does not stop at any savagery," he said.
He pointed out that Russia would not have stopped at our borders if we had not stopped it. Other states would have been under attack. The Baltic countries, Poland, Moldova and Georgia, Kazakhstan.
"The entire territory of our country will be liberated from this enemy - the enemy not only of Ukraine, but also of life itself, humanity, law and truth. Russia already knows this," he said. "Russia knows this. And that is why it is in a hurry."
"We have a decision. First – it is only the path of strengthening Ukraine and ousting the occupiers from our entire territory that restores peace. We will complete this path.
Second – Ukraine was and remains a leader in negotiation efforts. It was our state that always offered Russia to reach an agreement on coexistence on equal, honest, decent and fair terms. It is obvious that this is impossible with this Russian president. He does not know what dignity and honesty are. Therefore, we are ready for a dialogue with Russia, but already with another president of Russia," Zelenskyy said.
"And third – we must de jure record everything we have already achieved de facto. It is in Ukraine that the fate of democracy in the confrontation with tyranny is being decided. It is here, with the firmness of our state borders, that we can secure the firmness of the borders of all European states. We can guarantee that no one else will dare to bring war back to our continent," he added.
"We are de facto allies. This has already been achieved. De facto, we have already completed our path to NATO. De facto, we have already proven interoperability with the Alliance’s standards, they are real for Ukraine - real on the battlefield and in all aspects of our interaction. We trust each other, we help each other and we protect each other. This is what the Alliance is. De facto. Today, Ukraine is applying to make it de jure. Under a procedure consistent with our significance for the protection of our entire community. Under an accelerated procedure. We know it's possible. We have seen Finland and Sweden start accession to the Alliance this year without a Membership Action Plan," Zelenskyy went on.
"We understand that this requires the consensus of all members of the Alliance. We understand that it is necessary to reach such a consensus. And therefore, while this is happening, we offer to implement our proposals regarding security guarantees for Ukraine and all of Europe in accordance with the Kyiv Security Compact, which was developed and presented to our partners," he said. "Security has no alternatives. But determination is needed to guarantee it. We are taking our decisive step by signing Ukraine's application for accelerated accession to NATO."
Ukraine's course towards NATO is enshrined in its constitution. In March, after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine had been made clear that it would not be able to join NATO. And the Ukrainian people are beginning to understand this as well.
At the June NATO summit in Madrid, the Alliance did not offer Ukraine membership. As promised, Ukraine could join through the Membership Action Plan. Ukrainian authorities noted that if NATO offers Ukraine to join tomorrow, Ukraine will do it.