In his statements, the Ukrainian president said that a NATO invitation to Ukraine to join the transatlantic military alliance was necessary for the country’s ‘survival’
The president of , Volodimir Zelensky stated this Sunday (1st) that his country needs weapons and security guarantees from NATO, before any possible negotiations with Russia to put an end to the armed conflict.
made these statements at a press conference together with the new president of the European Council, Portuguese António Costa, who traveled to Ukraine on the first day of his term. Costa traveled accompanied by the European Union’s new head of diplomacy, Estonian Kaja Kallas, and Enlargement Commissioner, Slovenian Marta Kos.
In his remarks, Zelensky said a NATO invitation to Ukraine to join the transatlantic military alliance was necessary for the country’s “survival.” Therefore, he asked for weapons and security guarantees. “Only when we have all these elements and in a position of strength will we have to make the very important agenda of meeting with the killers,” he said, referring to Russia.
Among the weapons he requested, the Ukrainian leader highlighted long-range projectiles. The trip by senior EU officials to Kiev takes place in a context of great tension between Moscow and Western countries, following Ukraine’s firing of American and British missiles at Russian territory and the launch of an experimental hypersonic missile by Ukraine. Russia.
The new EU leadership team is trying to show its firm support for Kiev. Ukrainian forces are losing ground on the front, and Donald Trump’s imminent arrival in the White House threatens Washington’s continued aid to the Ukrainians.
“We came with a clear message that we support Ukraine and continue offering all our support,” Costa told the media who accompanied him. “The situation in Ukraine is very serious”, stressed Kallas, who, however, added that “this clearly also has a very high cost for Russia”.
Ceasefire?
To end the conflict, Moscow demands that Ukraine cede four southern and eastern provinces that Russia partially occupies, in addition to the Crimean peninsula, annexed in 2014, and that it also renounce NATO membership.
For Kallas, “the strongest security guarantee” for Ukraine is precisely “NATO membership”. “If Ukraine decides to draw a line somewhere, how can we guarantee peace so that [Vladimir] Putin won’t go any further?”, he said.
However, senior NATO officials estimate that there is little chance that the military alliance will soon grant Ukraine membership status, given the opposition of many countries, which fear going to war with Russia.
Regarding the sending of European troops to Ukrainian territory, the new head of European foreign policy assured that the bloc should not exclude anything, if it is the case of guaranteeing a possible ceasefire. This measure is another initiative that involves a risk of direct conflict with Moscow. “We have to maintain strategic ambiguity on this topic,” he added.
Convince Trump
Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, Europe has provided around 125 billion dollars (R$756 billion, at current exchange rates) in support to Ukraine. The United States, in turn, sent more than 90 billion dollars (R$545 billion), according to a study by the Kiel Institute.
The future of Washington’s support is in danger, as Trump continues to criticize these colossal sums of aid to Kiev and hints that he wants to end the conflict as soon as possible.
Kallas assured that the EU will use “transactional language” to try to convince the American tycoon that supporting Ukraine is also beneficial for the United States. “Aid to Ukraine is not charity. A victory for Russia would definitely encourage China, Iran and North Korea,” he added.
*With information from AFP
Posted by Carolina Ferreira
