17:23 15.03.2022

Zelensky about NATO: We heard that we can't join it, people beginning to understand this, rely on themselves

3 min read
Zelensky about NATO: We heard that we can't join it, people beginning to understand this, rely on themselves

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at a meeting of leaders of states of the Joint Expeditionary Force, said that Ukraine had heard that it would not join NATO member states, the Ukrainian people are beginning to understand this and rely on themselves.

"It is clear that Ukraine is not a member of NATO. We understand this. We are adequate people. For years we have heard about supposedly open doors, but we have already heard that we cannot enter there. And this is true, and we must admit it. I am glad that our people are beginning to understand this and rely on themselves and our partners who help us," the president said.

He also added that Ukraine currently does not claim to activate Article 5 of the NATO Treaty.

According to the head of state, the Russian invasion of Ukraine destroyed absolutely everything on which security in the region rested.

"I am sure that international security as well. The weight of the organization that we all hoped for, the strength of international conventions have been called into question. And the most powerful alliance in the world, NATO, an alliance that seems [itself], or some of its members, are hypnotized by Russian aggression. We hear now a lot of opinions on the theme of the third world war. That it can start if NATO closes the sky over Ukraine for Russian missiles and aircraft," Zelensky said, adding that the bombing and destruction of peaceful Ukrainian cities due to the uncovered sky are already taking place.

Addressing his interlocutors, the president also recalled Russia's missile attack on the Yavoriv test site in Lviv region, 20 km from NATO borders.

"We always say that our sky needs to be protected in the same way as the sky of the Alliance. But we always understand that there is a 'but.' But: what will NATO's response to the Alliance members be if they are already asking for protection in case if Russian missiles fly to them, and, God forbid, Russian planes?" he asked.

The President stressed that in order for Article 5 of the NATO Treaty to work in practice, there must be confidence that the Alliance will not be afraid to respond and "NATO will not have this hypnosis about the third world war."

"Now this confidence cannot be. We proposed a way for Ukraine to be able to protect its skies and people on its own. I would like everyone to hear this, and those countries that have a common border with the Russian Federation should especially think about self-defense. And we are doing everything to get air defense and aircraft. I remind you that we need new formats of interaction and decisiveness. And, if we cannot enter the open doors, then we must cooperate with such communities with whom we can do this and who will help us. We would like to have reliable guarantees," Zelensky concluded.

Article 5 Collective Defense of the NATO Treaty means that an attack on one of the NATO members will be considered as an attack on all NATO members.

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