According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, if Ukraine is invited to NATO, the temporarily occupied territories will not be considered Russian and Alliance members will even be able to operate in regions controlled by Kyiv.
In an interview with American podcast presenter Lex Fridman, the Ukrainian president noted that a legislative invitation to join NATO would be extended to the Ukrainian state. Therefore, Alliance forces will be able to operate in the part of the country controlled by the Ukrainian authorities.
At the same time, territories temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation will not be considered Russian.
“It can be negotiated, I’m sure. Yes, this is not a big success for us, but if we talk about measures to end the war, then this is the first. The second is a delivery of weapons,” said Volodymyr Zelensky, adding that strengthening sanctions against the Russian Federation and the unity of the United States and the EU on the issues raised were no less important.
He also believes that the elimination of Russia from energy markets, on the one hand, will strengthen the American economy and, on the other hand, will weaken Russia, which will not be able to continue the war without resources.
“I think it is in the interests of all reasonable people that there is no Russian energy on the market. He (Trump – editor’s note) has to shut it down, that’s all. This is normal – American oil, American gas. Okay, why not? And it will be cheaper for the world, it will be money for the United States. I think he will be happy: the president and your people will be happy. The decision is yours”and Volodymyr Zelensky added.
He also said he would like to meet future US President Donald Trump to agree on a peace plan before any negotiations with Vladimir Putin.
Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that he prayed that Donald Trump would not withdraw the United States from NATO – as the Republican threatened – because such a withdrawal would represent “the biggest risk” for security in Europe, according to the Ukrainian president. He also said he did not want “the same situation as with Biden”, saying that sanctions on Russia and arms deliveries to Ukraine had come too late.
