Three decades after Ukraine's approval to abandon its atomic weapons, the country's president says that Kiev is ready to become a nuclear force again if it is not given joining NATO.
“Let them give us nuclear weapons. Will they give us rockets in quantities that we can stop Russia? Volodymyr Zelensky told Piers Moor in an interview Tuesday night.
“Otherwise, what missiles can prevent Russia's nuclear missiles?” The Ukrainian President's request. “This is a rhetorical question.”
Under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine agreed to abandon the nuclear weapons it inherited from the former Soviet Union. On the other hand, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States agreed not to use military force or economic coercion against Ukraine unless it was self -defense “or another way according to the United Nations Charter.
In 30 years and two months since the signing of the agreement, Russia has invaded Ukraine twice – killing or injuring hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians during the past three years alone.
Ukraine first applied for NATO membership in 2008. In that period, the Atlantic Ocean alliance grew from 26 to 32 with additions to Albania, Croatia, Finland and Black, North Macedonia and Sweden.
“NATO is not today, but some time in the future,” Zelinski told Morgan. “Then all this for us, when we go to NATO, throughout this time, when we wait, regardless of the time it takes, and unfortunately, it does not depend on us.
“If this process is lengthy for years or contracts, not because of us but because of the partners, we have a completely question,” What will we defend us against this evil all the time? On this whole path? “
Then the West Ukraine President suggested, “Do this in the following way: Nuclear weapons are returned. Give us missile systems. The partners, helped us finance a million[-strong] army. Move your leak on the parts of our state, where we want the stability of the situation, so that people have calm. “
Throughout the war, Zelinski said that Ukraine is ready to be on the front lines to protect the West from Russian aggression – but it needs military help to do so.
In this way, a senior Ukrainian intelligence official told The Post newspaper
Although the Russian army – and the economy – had been severely strikes since the invasion began in February 2022, the official said that Kyiv needs a dramatic security guarantee to ensure that it does not continue to invade or move to the attacking of other neighbors – who, many of them as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania , They are members of NATO and will require help from the forces on the ground.
Russia is not weak, Russia is not weak. Russia has millions of people – Russia can mobilize 8 million [more] People, Russia has North Korea [troops,]The source said.
Ukrainian military leader suggested that Zelinski may be ready to waive some of the Ukrainian lands controlled by Russia in exchange for either NATO membership or nuclear armament to Kev as part of a deal to end the war.
I think [Zelensky] 100 % understands the situation, and he does this proposal. ”Even if Zelinski has to give up the lands, he is now in this place.
“Nuclear weapons will deter Russia.”
This official said that Ukraine will discuss the options with the White House Trump, especially the special envoy, General Keith Keel.
He said: “If the Ukrainians go to a kilo and say:” Give us tanks, give us money, give us all the weapons, Kelj will not like it. “
