Part of Ukraine’s territory cannot be invited to join NATO, we will never do it - Zelenskyy
Currently, the best guarantee of security for our country is joining NATO.
This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a briefing following a meeting with President of the European Council Antonio Costa, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrinform.
However, according to him, Ukraine will not agree to an invitation to join NATO as part of its territory.
"NATO is the best security guarantee for us. We have economic guarantees of security. And these are 2 requirements, no matter what the future diplomatic ways to end the war are, the EU and NATO are fundamental things for us," Zelenskyy emphasized.
At the same time, he noted that part of Ukraine's territory cannot be invited to join NATO, as this would mean automatic recognition of the occupied territories as Russian.
"Part of the territory of Ukraine cannot be invited to join NATO. This is an automatic recognition that all other territories are not only in danger, but all other territories are not Ukrainian, so Ukraine will never go for it. If it's an invitation, it should be for all the territories. But we understand that the 5th Amendment, when you are a member of NATO, cannot be applied during a war on the entire territory of Ukraine, because countries are against the risk of involving them in a war. Ukraine has never involved anyone in this war. I mean the armies of NATO members," Zelenskyy said.
The Head of State reminded that many different formats of Ukraine's membership in NATO are being discussed, but noted that Ukraine has not received any options from its international partners.
Earlier, in an interview with Sky News , President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he was ready to consider ending the "hot phase of the war" if the territories of Ukraine under its control were taken "under the NATO umbrella."
