Today at 19:23
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared that in his communication with U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, he discussed the need for Ukraine to join NATO, mentioning Ukraine’s renunciation of nuclear weapons.
Zelenskyy spoke about this at a press conference on Thursday after participating in the European Council meeting, where he presented the “victory plan.”
The president referred to the Budapest Memorandum as an ineffective agreement that failed to protect Ukraine after it gave up its nuclear weapons.
“Which of these great countries, all the nuclear states, has suffered? All? No, just one—Ukraine. Who gave up nuclear weapons? All? Only Ukraine. Who is fighting today? Ukraine.
In my conversation with Donald Trump, I told him: ‘What is the way out? Either Ukraine will have nuclear weapons—and that would be our protection. Or we must have some kind of alliance. Besides NATO, we do not know of any effective alliances today,'” the head of state recounted.
He added that NATO countries are not at war today, which is why Ukraine chooses NATO over nuclear weapons.
“I believe that Donald Trump heard me. He said, ‘You have fair arguments,'” Zelenskyy noted.
He also stated that if partners do not support his “victory plan,” it will become a privilege for Russia and a significant mistake.
According to the president, at the EU summit, 18 leaders commented on his “victory plan,” and the majority expressed support for it.
