Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy: Security guarantees instead of joining NATO

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy does not want to insist on joining NATO quickly. Instead, he wants security guarantees for his country. He was willing to talk about the status of the occupied territories.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is apparently moving away from his call for Ukraine to join NATO soon. Instead, he wants security guarantees for his country.

Zelenskyy said in an interview with US television channel ABC that NATO is not ready to accept Ukraine. “The alliance is afraid of everything that is controversial and of a confrontation with Russia,” he said. Zelenskyy’s party “Servant of the People” (Sluha Narodu) made a similar statement: “The alliance is not ready to absorb Ukraine over the next at least 15 years and has made this clear.”

Security guarantees – also from Russia

It is therefore high time to talk about security guarantees in anticipation of future NATO admission, the party said. “Guarantee states could become the USA, Turkey and the neighboring states of Ukraine.” In addition, Russia must confirm without a doubt that it recognizes Ukrainian statehood “and guarantees that it will not threaten our state.”

The goal of joining NATO is enshrined in the Ukrainian constitution. Russia, on the other hand, demands neutrality from Ukraine. Selenskyj had also called for security guarantees before the Russian attack on Ukraine.

Compromise on Crimea and “People’s Republics” is possible

Zelenskyy and his party were also willing to talk about the future status of the separatist areas in Donbass and Russian-occupied Crimea.

Zelenskyj said there could be a compromise. The important question for him is how the people in these areas could live in the future.

However, there is no question of Ukraine recognizing the independence of the regions, as Russia is demanding. His party declared: “We are not even theoretically considering the possibility of (…) giving up parts of our territory. That is unacceptable. Our Ukraine – including Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea.”

Speech by video call in the British Parliament

In a speech by video call in the British House of Commons, Zelenskyj had invoked Ukraine’s fighting spirit, but also asked for further help from Great Britain. For his country, the fight against the Russian army is about “to be or not to be,” Zelensky said. In view of the tough resistance, he could now give an answer: “It is definitely: be.”

He again called for further sanctions against Russia and a no-fly zone, the establishment of which has been rejected several times by Western countries.

Members of the British Parliament received the speech with great applause. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK would support Ukraine with arms and sanctions and all diplomatic, humanitarian and economic means to thwart Russian President Putin’s bid to subdue the country.