Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concern over Germany’s scepticism about Ukraine’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO), which he believes is caused by fear of a possible Russian reaction. Zelenskyy said this on Monday during a meeting with journalists from AFP, Yevropeiska Pravda and The Kyiv Independent.
According to Zelenskyy, most NATO countries have already reached a consensus on inviting Ukraine to join the alliance, which will be based on the country’s internationally recognised borders. He stressed that Ukraine has the support of countries such as France, the United Kingdom and Italy. However, Germany’s position remains reserved.
“But the United States will still have a decisive influence on this process. We hope that Washington will have a more positive position on our accession to NATO after the US presidential election,” Zelenskyy said. He also added that the United States could influence other countries, including Hungary and Slovakia, which also express restraint on NATO expansion, with its position.
The President did not rule out that some NATO partners might consider Ukraine’s accession in exchange for concessions on the occupied territories. “We are not discussing this, and this invitation does not depend on Russia’s opinion,” Zelenskyy said, stressing that Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders should be the basis for any decisions.
Zelenskyy’s comments come days after his public presentation of a five-point “victory plan” that includes an invitation to NATO, strengthening defence capabilities, deterring Russian aggression, economic growth, and a post-war security architecture.
Although Kyiv applied for NATO membership in September 2022, the alliance has not yet made a final decision on the timing of Ukraine’s accession. In July 2024, NATO acknowledged Ukraine’s “irreversible path to Euro-Atlantic integration”, but no specific timeline was announced.
Regarding possible peace talks with Russia, Zelenskyy believes that their prospects largely depend on the outcome of the US presidential election in November. He is convinced that after the election, the United States will quickly form its position on the war, which could affect Russia’s willingness to negotiate.
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine is not asking its Western allies for nuclear weapons to defend itself, but expressed confidence that strong support from NATO and the United States will help ensure the country’s security in the future.
