"If Ukraine Is Not in NATO, Ukraine Will Build NATO on Its Territory," Zelenskyy Says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that if Ukraine is unable to join NATO, the country must “build its own NATO.” He made this remark in an interview with The Economist on February 12.

Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine’s NATO membership currently seems unlikely due to opposition from Germany and Hungary. However, he suggested that this stance could change if former US President Donald Trump “was in favour of it.”

At the same time, Zelenskyy emphasized that if NATO’s doors remain closed, Ukraine must strengthen its own military instead.

“Because if Ukraine is not in NATO, it means that Ukraine will build NATO on its territory. So we need an army as numerous as the Russians have today. And for all this, we need weapons and money. And we will ask the us for this.”

He also suggested that under such circumstances, the US could provide security guarantees without involving Russia, while Europe could help finance Ukraine’s military buildup. According to Zelenskyy, reinforcing Ukraine’s military in the absence of NATO membership serves as the country’s “Plan B.”

“We need our own army, but we have to double it. Double. To be on the same level as the Russian army. What do we need? Money, and for troops, we need military equipment, etc. So, if Europe is ready, it will be prepared for its security,” Zelenskyy said.

“As I said, a comparable number of troops between Russia and the EU is needed for their security. It means only one thing: if we need to double, Europe will help us with financing, and this way, the United States will help us with some specific weapons: missiles, long-distance missiles, and Patriots.”

Earlier, Zelenskyy stated that if the country is not admitted into NATO, an alternative would be the presence of Alliance forces on Ukrainian territory. According to The Guardian, Zelenskyy ruled out the possibility of United Nations forces being deployed in Ukraine after the full-scale war ends.