President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Ukrainian army is the strongest in Europe and it would be logical for such an army to be in NATO.
Points of attention
- President Zelenskyy praises the Ukrainian army as the strongest in Europe, attributing its strength to the heroic efforts of its soldiers.
- He advocates for the integration of the Ukrainian army into NATO for enhanced security and emphasizes the need for international cooperation in maintaining peace.
It is unwise to keep such an army outside NATO — Zelenskyy highly praised the AFU
The head of state announced this during a speech at the Munich Security Conference.
We must have the ability to give strong responses to threats. And that's why we talk about a common European defense policy, that's why we need an American backstop, that's why Europe needs Ukraine. The Ukrainian army is the strongest army in Europe thanks to our heroes. It's just unwise, I think, to keep this army outside NATO.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine
At the same time, he emphasized that if the Alliance member countries refuse Ukraine's membership, "at least let it be your decision, friends, and not Putin's."
Zelensky also emphasized that today it is thanks to the Ukrainian army that peace is maintained in Europe.
It is the Ukrainians who hold the European front. Behind our people stand independent Poland and free Baltic states. There can be a sovereign Moldova and Romania without dictatorship.
At the same time, he emphasized that Ukrainians did not choose the role of heroes and did not choose war. He reminded Europeans of the price of Ukrainian resistance:
Ukraine did not choose this war, and it would be wrong to assume that this is a permanent arrangement, that others can stay behind Ukraine forever. Ukrainians are people, not terminators. Our people are dying too.
