Photo: EPA
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s membership in NATO would benefit not only Kyiv but also the Alliance itself, arguing that Ukraine’s battlefield experience and military capabilities have become vital to European security.
Speaking after a meeting of the NATO–Ukraine Council in Kyiv attended by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Zelenskyy said most allies already understand the strategic value Ukraine would bring to the Alliance.
“I think most countries truly understand that Ukraine in NATO is something NATO needs no less than Ukraine does,” the president said.
Zelenskyy argued that Ukraine’s accession would strengthen collective security across Europe and even contribute to long-term stability for Russia.
“I believe even the Russians need Ukraine to be in NATO. Because in the future, it could be painful if Ukraine is not in NATO,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader stressed that the country has already demonstrated its ability to defend not only itself but also the wider European continent. He highlighted Ukraine’s unique combat experience, which no current NATO member possesses, as well as its growing long-range strike capabilities.
Zelenskyy also announced that Ukraine will send experts to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania to help those countries counter Russian drone threats.
