Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that Ukraine is unlikely to be admitted into NATO until it achieves victory in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
Zelensky shared this view during discussions with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and a group of military officers undergoing NATO-standard training, as reported by European Truth.
NATO Membership Post-Victory
President Zelensky stated that Ukraine's admission into the North Atlantic Alliance is likely only possible after the conflict, citing the war as a major obstacle for potential membership.
"In my personal opinion, we will join NATO only when we win. I don't believe we will be accepted into NATO during a time of war. For some, it poses a risk to NATO members; for others, there is simply skepticism," the head of state said in a video posted on his Telegram channel.
"The question of NATO, as Secretary General Stoltenberg rightly pointed out, is a matter of majority decision. This is fundamentally a political issue. For Ukraine to be politically accepted into the Alliance, achieving victory is necessary," he added.
The President also reflected on the historical context, suggesting that Ukraine's non-membership in NATO was one of the catalysts for the current conflict.
He accused Russia of influencing certain NATO members to prevent Ukraine’s membership in both NATO and the European Union, aiming to keep Ukraine under Russian influence and hinder its development.
Comments from NATO’s Secretary General
The previous day, during a speech in the Verkhovna Rada, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised the Ukrainian military's resilience against Russian aggression but mentioned that he could not predict the exact timing for Ukraine’s NATO membership.
In an earlier meeting with President Zelensky, discussions also covered the NATO special fund of 100 billion to support Ukraine, among other topics.
