Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine needs an invitation to join NATO as a guarantee of security and that it will cover the entire territory within internationally recognised borders.
Zelensky said this in an interview with the CNN channel.
‘An invitation to NATO is the first step. It is not NATO yet, but it is goodwill. But what is important is always an honest relationship. An invitation is an honest answer to whether Ukraine will be in NATO in the future. And it is important to do this, and this is the first step, which, by the way, sends a clear signal to Putin or any aggressor in the future. It sends a signal - Ukraine will be a NATO member,’ the Head of State said.
The President clarified that Ukraine did not want to involve its partners in the war. ‘We understand that America or other partners cannot take Ukraine into NATO while Ukraine is at war. Ukraine understands this and does not want to involve the military of other countries in this war,’ Zelenskyy said and explained that this is why Kyiv is talking about an invitation.
‘But if we want to really end the war, we must give Ukraine NATO. The invitation is given to the entire territory of Ukraine within internationally recognised borders. There is nothing to talk about because this is our Constitution, international law, and it cannot be violated. But the Alliance's actions may be on the part that Ukraine will control, which it controls, then with future expansion,’ the head of state added.