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Zelensky demanded to accept Ukraine into NATO or give it nuclear weapons
Zelensky noted that the importance of Ukraine's membership in NATO was discussed in a conversation with US presidential candidate Donald Trump. He also recalled the Budapest Memorandum of Understanding, signed in 1994 by the US, UK, Ukraine and Russia. Under the agreement, Kyiv transferred to Moscow about 1,900 nuclear warheads left over from the collapse of the Soviet Union in exchange for security commitments from the parties to the treaty.
That's how we get it. What's the solution? Either Ukraine will have nuclear weapons. That will protect us. Or you will have to create some kind of alliance. "With the exception of NATO, we don't know of any effective alliance today," Zelensky said.
He added that Ukraine chose to cooperate with NATO rather than develop nuclear weapons, stressing that the allies "are not currently in a state of war."
Inviting Ukraine to NATO was part of the "victory plan" announced by Zelensky in the Verkhovna Rada the day before. He believes that the implementation of this plan can help end the conflict by 2025.
The Associated Press reported that in the West "no one has yet expressed clear support" for the plan, and some "have expressed concern about the short time frame" for reviewing key aspects.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited Ukraine's desire to join NATO as one of the reasons for the military operation. Last June, he proposed that Kyiv abandon the alliance as one of the conditions for a ceasefire. Zelensky regarded this proposal as an ultimatum.