President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine deserves to be invited to join NATO at the summit in Washington this summer, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
"I am sure that Ukraine deserves it like no other. First, Ukraine has a strong army that will definitely strengthen NATO countries, especially Eastern Europe. An army with combat experience: not in theory, but in practice. An army that used NATO weapons during the war on the battlefield, not just in military training," he said at a press conference in Tallinn on Thursday.
"We know all the advantages of these weapons and all the disadvantages. We know the difficulties on the battlefield at any time of the year. Unfortunately, this experience cost people's lives. However, it is a fact. Therefore, when we talk about our army or compatibility with NATO standards, I see that we are absolutely ready," Zelenskyy said.
This will be the best security guarantee for Ukraine, the president added, that there will be no return of Russian aggression.
"This is a very long process, and it is clear that Ukraine will not join NATO the day after the war ends. It will take a little longer, but history shows us that buffer zones do not work. This means that for countries that have decided to become democratic and want to protect themselves, there is no alternative but NATO," Estonian President Alar Karis said.