Zelenskyy explained why it is important for Ukraine to join NATO

The President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recalled that Ukraine renounced nuclear weapons. He emphasized that the country handed over its nuclear arsenal, hoping for integration into NATO.

He announced this during a meeting with journalists, as "RBC-Ukraine" reports on Tuesday, October 22.

Zelenskyy about renouncing the nuclear arsenal

"We really gave up all our nuclear weapons at one time. It was many years ago. We should have exchanged for NATO. This is my opinion. I shared it with Biden and with Trump. That is why I said that I cannot understand where the justice is regarding Ukraine," the President noted.

He came to the conclusion that Ukraine handed over weapons, but did not receive guaranteed security.

"We gave away nuclear weapons. We did not get NATO. And can you, I asked them, can you name me other allies or another "security umbrella" or something like that, some security measures and guarantees for Ukraine that would be commensurate with NATO. No one can tell me. Therefore, these are my arguments," Zelenskyy added.

The President emphasized that Ukraine does not demand the return of nuclear weapons, but needs to join NATO to ensure its protection from Russian aggression.

"We gave away, but we did not get anything in return. And we only got a full-scale war and many victims, so today we have only one way out. That is why we need NATO, because we do not have weapons that can stop Putin," the President said.

Previously, we wrote that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte assured that Ukraine's future in the Alliance has already been determined. According to him, Ukraine's course towards NATO membership is irreversible.

As a reminder, the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that in practice Ukraine is already a member of the North Atlantic Alliance. He noted that the Ukrainian military is holding the front line with weapons sent from all over the world.