Ukraine needs security guarantees and membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as more weapons to strengthen its position before starting negotiations with Russia, said President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday December 1st.
“An invitation to join NATO is necessary for our survival”said the Ukrainian President after meeting with the President of the European Council António Costa, the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, and the Commissioner for Marta Kos enlargement in kyiv. A «nice name» long-range weapons would also be useful, he added.
“If we have a frozen conflict without a strong Ukrainian position, Vladimir Putin will come back in two, three or five years,” at-il having you.
Two days earlier, it appeared that Volodymyr Zelensky's stance on possible ceasefire talks had changed, as he called on NATO to offer protection guarantees to the regions of Ukraine controlled by kyiv in order to “end the hot phase of the war”.
At a press conference alongside the new President of the European Council, António Costa, journalists asked him to clarify his position. The Ukrainian president said any invitation to join the alliance must apply to the entire territory of Ukraine. Then kyiv can plan peace talks with its aggressor, continued Volodymyr Zelensky.
He accepted, however, that NATO's security shield does not apply to parts of Ukraine that are occupied by Russia while the war is ongoing.
Volodymyr Zelensky also said there is still time for the United States — who, under the leadership of outgoing President Joe Biden, opposed it — to convince others “skeptics”including Germany or Hungary, that Ukraine should be invited to join the Western military alliance.
Ukrainian officials have suggested that this week's NATO foreign ministers' meeting would be a good time to make a final push before the Trump administration takes over the White House.
According to President Zelensky, once Ukraine strengthens its position, EU and NATO representatives should also participate in possible negotiations with Russia.
“We see ourselves as future members of these organizations”affirmed Volodymyr Zelensky, indicating that this excluded any hypothesis of future neutrality for his country.
The delicate question of the troops
The new High Representative of the EU, Kaja Kallas, affirmed that for kyiv, “the strongest security guarantee is NATO membership”. Europe's support for kyiv should remain unlimited and the possibility of deploying troops in the future should be considered in order to maintain strategic ambiguity vis-à-vis Russia.
According to the Estonian, Europe should “play a role” in the event of a ceasefire, and it would be necessary to send troops to verify that it is indeed respected.
“So far, discussions have focused on which countries would be willing to send soldiers to Ukraine and which would not. I think nothing should be excluded”she continued.
Several EU diplomats confirmed that discussions on this subject remain delicate, but that they are taking place behind the scenes in European capitals. However, they clarified that for the moment these were only theoretical discussions.
“We will never ask for troops to be sent to our territory […]. Do we want it? Yes, of course, we would be happy […] Because [Vladimir Poutine] is allied with North Korea and Iran, while we fight alone. Yes, with the help of our partners — and we are grateful to them — but on the ground, we fight alone”Volodymyr Zelensky said in response to a journalist's question.
More “If I raise the issue of the need for foreign troops, whether from NATO or elsewhere, half of our allies will immediately cease their support — that’s a risk I cannot take”he added.
“If you ask me if we want it, yes, we cannot say no to meaningful support or assistance from our partners towards Ukraine. »
What about EU support?
“We will stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary and whatever it costs”said António Costa next to Volodymyr Zelensky in the Mariinsky Palace in kyiv.
“We have been at your side since the very first day of this war of aggression and you can count on us to continue to support you”he added.
The new President of the European Council confirmed that by the end of the year the EU will have allocated 4.2 billion euros to Ukraine and that in 2025 it will transfer 1.5 billion euros every month euros from profits from frozen Russian assets that were seized in Europe.
He also announced that the EU would continue to put pressure on the Russian economy with a fifteenth package of sanctions. EU diplomats, however, warned that the measures were unlikely to be approved before the end of Hungary's EU presidency at the end of December.
When it comes to EU military aid, however, the options seem limited.
Although the EU met its goal of providing Ukraine with one million munitions this month, most assistance efforts have failed due to a lack of unity and the firm veto of Hungary on funds from the European Union Peace Facility.
The next summit of EU leaders, to be held in mid-December, should be an opportunity to insist on an increase in EU military aid, according to European officials.
Emmanuel Macron does not rule out sending troops to Ukraine
27 heads of state and government gathered in Paris for a conference in support of Ukraine said they were ready to buy munitions produced in third countries. Emmanuel Macron clarified that sending troops to Ukraine could not be ruled out.
[Édité par Anna Martino]
