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Kyiv, Ukraine – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that until Ukraine becomes a NATO member, it is necessary to provide external funding for the 800,000-strong army to ensure the country’s defence capability. The head of state said this during a press conference on 23 February.
“If we are talking about economic security guarantees, it is membership in the European Union. And the second is the financing of the Ukrainian army of at least 800,000 soldiers. If we are not in NATO and do not have such security guarantees, we must look for other options for support,”Zelenskyy said.
Why is external financing important?
Today, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have about 800,000 soldiers, and maintaining such a large army is a significant financial challenge for a country that has been fighting Russian aggression for more than two years.
Zelensky stressed that:
– Ukraine needs stable external financing to maintain a combat-ready army.
– Security guarantees from partners before a country becomes a NATO member are critical.
– Support from the US and EU isa key factor in deterring further Russian aggression.
“We understand that the United States and several European countries are not yet ready to support our accession to NATO. But I am confident that these negotiations will continue and will be on the table,”Zelenskyy said.
