In an interview with British television Sky News, Zelenskyy laid out his case for joining the transatlantic military alliance, arguing that his country cannot legally recognize occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian because that would be against the constitution.
ADVERTISEMENTUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that NATO membership must be based on Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.
In an interview with British television Sky News, Zelenskyy laid out his case for joining the transatlantic military alliance, arguing that his country cannot legally recognize occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian because that would be against the constitution.
“You cannot give an invitation to only one part of the country. Why? Because you would admit that that territory is part of Ukraine, and the other is Russia. So, legally, by law, we have no right to recognize the occupied territory as the territory of Russia. And here we must not make any mistake ”, he said.
Zelenskyy said joining NATO would effectively and quickly help de-escalate the conflict, allowing his country and Russia to diplomatically negotiate the return of areas controlled by the Kremlin.
Ukraine’s potential NATO membership has infuriated the Kremlin and is one of the main reasons for the Russian invasion.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has repeatedly criticized the expansion of NATO, calling it a violation of Russian security.
But the invasion of Ukraine prompted both Sweden and Finland, both historically non-aligned countries, to apply to join the alliance. Finland joined NATO in early 2023, and Sweden a year later.
Finland shares more than 1,300 km of land border with Russia.
Zelensky’s comments to Sky come a day after Moscow launched another large-scale air strike against Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities said nearly 200 drones and missiles targeted infrastructure, disrupting electricity supplies to more than a million people.
In previous years, Russia has targeted Ukraine’s electricity generation, with the goal of denying civilians critical heating and drinking water supplies during the harsh winter months and breaking the Ukrainian spirit.
The strikes are also aimed at curbing Ukraine’s defense industry, which now produces missiles, drones and armored vehicles, among other military assets.
The right to self-defense
Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Russia had the right to defend itself against Ukrainian strikes using long-range weapons supplied by the West.
Kim’s remarks, reported by North Korea’s state broadcaster KCNA, were directed at Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, who is in Pyongyang for talks with military and political leaders.
Belousov met with his North Korean counterpart No Kwang Cho on Friday in what Belousov said was an effort to expand military cooperation between the two countries.
ADVERTISEMENTThe Russian defense chief also said the strategic partnership agreement signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June was aimed at “stabilizing” Northeast Asia.
“The agreement is aimed at reducing the risk of war, including nuclear weapons, and making a positive contribution to maintaining the balance of power in the region,” Belousov said.
During his speech, North Korea’s No said that Pyongyang will stand “on a common front with Russian comrades to protect international peace and security.”
Belousov came just days after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol met with a Ukrainian delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in the capital Seoul.
ADVERTISEMENTYoon urged the two countries to formulate countermeasures against North Korea’s alleged deployment of thousands of troops to Russia to support its war effort in Ukraine.
The United States and its allies have said North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia in recent weeks and that some of those troops have been involved in the fighting.
In recent months, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has prioritized relations with Russia as he tries to break out of isolation and strengthen his international footing, embracing the idea of a “new Cold War.”
