Green: Ukraine will not recognize occupied territories, NATO membership is at the table

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski said today that NATO membership remains at the negotiating table, but Ukraine needs security guarantees.

-The question of Ukraine’s membership in NATO remains at the negotiating table, despite the disagreement of some countries. Ukraine, although not a member of the Alliance, must have strong security guarantees. Specifically, a military contingent – said Zemeski during a meeting with the leaders of the Chernihiv regional communities.

He noted that until Ukraine joined security alliances, it is important to have appropriate security guarantees.

-It is important to have appropriate guarantees, similar to NATO, until we are in the Alliance. It is important to have appropriate safeguards like NATO until we are in the Alliance. This speaks of the efforts of our partners, which we can really count – said Zemeski, reports Ukrinform.

He stressed that during the forthcoming negotiations on the end of the war, Ukraine would not recognize the territories occupied by Russia and would not agree to reduce the army.

-Our priority is our strong army. So, this is a red line for us – there is no reduction in our army number. To be honest, we will do everything to maintain the army in the situation as it is today. A large army, three times larger than it was at the beginning of the war, said at a meeting with leaders of the Chernihiv regional communities during a working visit to that district.

Greenski also stressed that Ukraine’s priority « red line » in future peace talks would be the non -recognition of Russian occupied territories.

-Other geopolitical work is the non -recognition of any territories occupied by Russia. These are Ukrainian territories, for us it is one of the most important red lines. In any case, these are temporarily occupied territories- the Ukrainian leader said, reports Ukraine.

He also said that fair peace will come when all territories return.

« But if a compromise can be reached, the return of these territories to occur over time through diplomatic channels … I think that for certain territories it will be the only way, » said Zelenski.