Nato invitation for Ukraine ‘only way’ to stop Russia’s war, says Zelenskyy

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said a formal invitation to join Nato is “the only way” Ukraine can survive Russia’s invasion, as the Ukrainian president urged western allies to endorse his plan to end the war.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine joining the US-led military alliance — the first of five steps in his “victory plan” — was essential in bringing Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.

“We cannot be very strong without having an invitation [which] strengthens our diplomatic ways to end the war,” he told the Financial Times. “This war will finish when Putin will be isolated, and pushed by other partners to diplomacy.”

While all Nato members have agreed that Ukraine is on an “irreversible path” to membership, the US and Germany have been opposed to formally inviting Kyiv to join for fear of escalating the conflict with Russia. Some officials have also privately speculated that Nato accession could be used as a bargaining chip in any negotiations with Moscow.

“The invitation to Nato will raise up the morale of our people and our soldiers,” Zelenskyy said. “Invitation means one more step to Nato, which means their children will not die. Never, because we will be a member of Nato. If we will not get a Nato invitation, morale will decrease.”

Zelenskyy compared the debate to previous discussions over providing Patriot missile systems or F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, where western capitals initially refused, only to slowly come around and agree.

“The reaction to the victory plan is exactly the same as to Patriots, F-16s . . . But we have to do it. This is the only way we can survive,” he said. “The war will not finish until Putin feels like he has to finish. And he only understands power.”

“This depends not on Russia, but the will of our partners. Most are on our side. But we must pressurise others,” he added.

Zelenskyy spoke to the FT after briefing the EU’s 27 leaders on his plan in Brussels on Thursday and after meeting the biggest political parties in the bloc’s assembly.

Roberta Metsola, the president of the European parliament, said there was “no Ukraine fatigue” among the bloc’s lawmakers.

“We need to rediscover leadership and courage, which Ukrainians are showing on the battlefield,” Metsola said, speaking alongside Zelenskyy. “It is a sending of a signal that is important,” she said of a Nato invitation to join. “To show that there is a path, just like EU candidate status.”

Kyiv applied to join Nato and the EU in 2022, after Russia’s full-scale invasion, but it has only advanced on the path towards EU membership.

Speaking on Thursday, Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte said: “Ukraine will be a member of Nato in the future . . . the question is exactly about the when, [and] I cannot answer that now at this moment.”

Zelenskyy admitted that the outcome of the US presidential election next month was critical for his country’s future and his Nato ambitions. Vice-president and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has said she would weigh up Nato membership in the future, while former president and Republican candidate Donald Trump has criticised US military aid to Kyiv and said he would settle the conflict as soon as he was elected.

“I don’t know what the offer will be to us after the [US] election,” Zelenskyy said. “We can see three different ways forward.”

One was continued support but with allies still “afraid of some risks”. Depending on who wins the race for the White House, “we see [two] other ways. Will it be more positive? Or less positive? Honestly, I don’t know. And this is very sensitive for our people.”

The Ukrainian president said western officials floating an arrangement where Kyiv trades Russian-occupied territory for Nato membership had not consulted him.

“People never said this [to us]. People are afraid to tell [me],” he said, urging these officials to “put it on the table, openly to us. Not through some third party. Speak with us.”

Zelenskyy said he was open to peace proposals from other countries as long as they were “real” and did not seek to undermine support for his own.

“Brazil, you have a plan? Great. The proposition from China, we are not against . . . But, guys, please, don’t divide us,” he said.

Metsola, who said that the European parliament would vote to approve a €35bn EU loan to Ukraine next week, urged member states to support Zelenskyy’s proposals, and “reiterate our firm commitment” to the country’s victory.