President Volodymyr Zelensky Believes Ukraine's NATO Membership Can Be Realized

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky in a speech to Ukrainian diplomats on Sunday said the country's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership could be achieved, but Kyiv had to struggle to persuade allies to make it happen.

"We all understand that Ukraine's invitation to NATO and membership in the alliance can only be a political decision," President Zelensky told diplomats at a meeting in Kyiv.

"The alliance for Ukraine can be achieved, but it can only be achieved if we fight for this decision at all necessary levels," he continued.

Ukraine has repeatedly urged NATO to invite Kyiv to become a member. The Western military alliance said Ukraine would join NATO one day but had not yet set a date or issued an invitation.

On the other hand, Moscow has cited the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO as one of the main justifications for the 2022 invasion.

Kyiv said membership in the joint defense pact with the Western alliance, or an equivalent form of security guarantee, would be critical to any peace plan to ensure that Russia does not attack again.

President Zelensky said allies needed to know what Ukraine could give NATO and how its membership in the alliance would stabilize global relations.

Last week, President Zelensky urged European countries to provide guarantees to protect Ukraine after the war with Russia ended, saying Ukraine would eventually need more protection through the alliance's membership.