Zelenskyy: If process of joining NATO protracted, give nuclear weapons back to Ukraine

British journalist Piers Morgan has posted a short excerpt from an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be broadcast on social media tonight.

The excerpt was published on social media platform X, Ukrinform reports.

The journalist asked Zelenskyy if he had a plan B in case Ukraine did not join NATO, a condition allegedly put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who explained the invasion by Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

If the process of joining the Alliance is protracted for years or decades – not because of Ukraine, but because of its partners – then Ukraine will rightly ask what will protect it from this evil, what support and weapons will Ukraine receive, Zelensky said, speaking via an interpreter.

In this case, Zelenskyy said, the partners should provide a sufficient number of missiles and even return nuclear weapons to Ukraine, as well as help finance a million-strong army to deter Russia so that people have tranquility.

Russia must also pay financial compensation for all the damage caused to Ukraine, Zelenskyy added.

As reported earlier, after the Russian missile attack on the town of Izium, which killed five people (including a pregnant woman), President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it was necessary to put pressure on Russia to stop terror and protect lives.

Other key points from the interview:

• Putin will not wait for me to get tired. We are fighting for our lives and existence, we have no other choice.
• If aid from the United States stops, I am sure this will impact European leaders.
• About 300-350 thousand Russian soldiers were killed, 600-700 thousand wounded. Ukraine – 45.1 thousand killed and 390 thousand wounded.
• If a meeting with Putin to reach a peace agreement is the only option, then we will certainly go to such a meeting.
• Ukraine received only $46 billion of the promised $77 billion in weapons, and a certain part of the funds remained in the US for weapons production.
• A completely fair question arises: what will protect us from this evil all this time, all this way? What support package, what missiles? Will they give us nuclear weapons? Then let them give us nuclear weapons.
• Give us missile systems; partners, help us finance a million-strong army, transfer your contingent to those parts of our state where we want stability so that people are calm.

Read also: EU to focus on accelerating arms supplies to Ukraine in coming weeks – von der Leyen