Ukraine has right to demand serious security guarantees that could stop Putin - Zelenskyy
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has commented on US President-elect Donald Trump' s statement that he "can understand the feelings" of the Russian Federation because of Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO.
This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.
At a meeting with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, Zelenskyy said: "Do you remember when Ukraine was told that Patriot systems can be and are only in NATO countries? Well, either you and I have been in NATO for a long time, or we should not draw any conclusions. This was the case with Patriot, and it was the case with missile systems and other weapons. Now we have to work and do everything to ensure that Ukraine receives security guarantees worthy of our people that could stop Putin."
The President noted that Ukraine has never been a member of NATO and, unfortunately, has not been protected by a serious alliance of security guarantors. Zelenskyy emphasized that there is no war in NATO countries, but Ukraine, which is at war, has the right to demand serious and strong security guarantees from the world, which constantly claims leadership, and from countries that claim peace in the world.
According to the head of state, the issue of security guarantees depends not only on the United States, but also on the allied position in Europe. "And, I will tell you honestly, unfortunately, with all due respect to all European countries, to the United States, and with all due respect to the amount (of assistance - ed.) that we have received since the beginning of the war, NATO did not have the joint support of the United States with all allies in Europe," Zelenskyy emphasized.
Zelenskyy recalled that "there are countries that opposed our chance in NATO." The United States, Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia. The President added that Ukraine was not seen in the Alliance and this is one of the reasons why there is a war now. "Because they were not afraid that Ukraine would be with someone. That is, Putin realized that no one would stand up for Ukraine. He realized that his army was bigger, he could destroy us. But the Ukrainian army, it impressed the whole world," Zelenskyy emphasized.
As a reminder, on January 7, US President-elect Donald Trump said that he "can understand the feelings" of the Russian Federation over Ukraine's aspirations for NATO and warned that the war could escalate.
