Zelensky argues forcefully for Ukraine and Moldova to join NATO – Ukraine-Russia War

“All the European countries which have a border with Russia and which do not want Russia to tear away part of their territory from them must be full members of NATO and the EU”, claimed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, this Thursday, during a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Bulboaca (eastern Moldova).

“There are only two alternatives to this: either an open war or a creeping Russian occupation,” insisted Volodymyr Zelensky, Moldova and Ukraine already having part of their territory under Russian influence.

“Every time we prepare and take decisions for the good of our Europe, for the good of our values, we must remember that every doubt we manifest is a trench that Russia will try to occupy (…), every doubt brings more insecurity,” said the Ukrainian president.

At the next Atlantic Alliance summit in mid-July in Vilnius, “clear invitations to NATO membership will be needed and security guarantees throughout the membership process”, he asked. . “As regards our joining the EU, a clear and positive decision is needed,” he added.

United States: a crucial position

Alongside the CPE summit, the foreign ministers of the NATO countries met in Oslo on Thursday to discuss in particular Ukraine’s membership prospects.

“We need to put in place frameworks to provide Ukraine with security guarantees after the end of the war,” Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

French President Emmanuel Macron also called on Wednesday for “tangible and credible security guarantees” for this country.

The position of the United States will be crucial. Washington refuses for the time being that NATO grants such security guarantees to Ukraine, explained a minister in Oslo on condition of anonymity.

Such guarantees, which consist of officially displaying support for a country in the event of aggression, have recently been offered by several Alliance countries to Sweden, whose membership is blocked by Turkey and Hungary.