President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated his intention to maintain the size of the country's Armed Forces at 800,000 military personnel to ensure complete national security. The Ukrainian leader announced this in an interview with TSN.Week host Alla Mazur, emphasizing that this figure could change if Ukraine joins NATO or receives sufficient financial backing.
Sovereignty and the Internal Nature of the Decision
The Head of State specifically noted that the quantitative composition of the Ukrainian army is exclusively an internal matter for the country. According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he fundamentally does not discuss and does not intend to discuss the parameters of the Armed Forces' size with either the Russian side or American partners. The President emphasized that such decisions are made based on national interests and defense requirements.
Financial Component and Partner Support
A key factor for sustaining an army of 800,000 is the availability of necessary financial resources, which Ukraine cannot provide independently amid post-war economic recovery. In this regard, Kyiv relies on partial funding from international partners, viewing such investments as real security guarantees. Concurrently, the presidential office is discussing the integration of these forces into the pan-European security architecture with the participation of European nations.
NATO Membership Prospects and Security
According to the Ukrainian Head of State, the 800,000 figure is not final and may be revised downward after Ukraine obtains membership in the North Atlantic Alliance. Collective NATO security can reduce the burden on the national budget and alter requirements for the regular troop strength. Nevertheless, at the current stage, a strong army is viewed as the primary barrier and key deterrence tool along the eastern border.
