Zelenskyy: We Gave Away Our Nuclear Weapons and Got Full-Scale War and Death in Return

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy said that Ukraine does not want to regain the right to be a nuclear power, but in exchange, it should receive a "security umbrella".

This was reported by Babel, citing the President’s statement during a briefing with journalists on October 21.

"My position is very clear. We gave away our weapons but got nothing in return. Only a full-scale war and death. Therefore, today we have only one way out. We need NATO because we don't have weapons that can stop Putin," Zelenskyy said.

According to the President, when Ukraine gave up all its nuclear weapons in 1996, it should have become a member of NATO.

"This is my opinion. I shared it with US President Joe Biden and US presidential candidate Donald Trump. That is why I said that I cannot understand where justice is in relation to Ukraine. We gave up our nuclear weapons. We did not get NATO. I asked them if you could name me other allies or another ‘security umbrella’, some security measures and guarantees for Ukraine that would be commensurate with NATO. No one could tell me," stated Zelensky.

Earlier, Zelenskyy presented his Victory Plan, with NATO membership as a central point. This plan aims to secure a formal invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance, a step seen as crucial in ensuring Ukraine’s long-term security and a key element in ending the war on its terms.

According to Le Monde, the United States has reportedly shifted its stance on Ukraine’s NATO membership, no longer opposing an invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance. This change in Washington’s position could influence Germany’s outlook on the issue, as Berlin has been a key opponent of Ukraine’s NATO accession.