Zelenskyy: Ukraine Ready to Discuss NATO Alternative Subject to Legally Binding Guarantees

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that Kyiv does not rule out considering alternative security system formats instead of NATO membership. At the same time, he emphasized that any agreements must have legally binding force and provide a real protection mechanism rather than formal promises from partners. According to the head of state, Ukraine's key demand is that the proposed guarantees be "truly working" and comparable in security level to Alliance membership.

Three-Component Security Model

Zelenskyy outlined the optimal security architecture for Ukraine, in his assessment, as a combination of three elements: its own armed military, integration into the European Union, and participation in the NATO system. The president noted that the Ukrainian military already represents a concrete guarantee of state defense: their combat experience and numbers make it possible to strengthen the armed forces of European countries. He assigns a separate role in this model precisely to Alliance membership, which, according to him, means participation in a common security system with legally defined ally rights.

Readiness for Dialogue and the Legal Force Condition

At the same time, Zelenskyy acknowledged that accession to the European Union depends on the decisions of European countries, while joining NATO requires the consent of both Europe and the United States. In this regard, he stated that Ukraine is ready to consider alternative security guarantee options if they are equivalent to Alliance membership. "We are ready to discuss equivalent guarantees, even under a different name, but they must have the same legal force," the president emphasized. He added that NATO membership could serve as a deterrent for both sides of the conflict, so any alternative format must provide a comparable level of security.

Washington's Position and the Context of Euro-Atlantic Integration

Zelenskyy's statements came against the backdrop of a previously expressed position by US Vice President JD Vance, who stated in an interview with 2WAY TONIGHT that Ukraine should not join NATO. Vance emphasized that there is no official alliance agreement between Washington and Kyiv, although the countries will continue cooperation on separate issues. Thus, a difference in assessments of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration prospects remains between Washington and Kyiv.

Recognition as a Contributor to Euro-Atlantic Security

In September of this year, NATO countries officially recognized Ukraine as a common contributor to Euro-Atlantic security at the leaders' level for the first time. According to the Head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO, Natalia Geta... [Hetanuch], this decision opens up new opportunities for support from allies. In the context of Zelenskyy's interview, this recognition can be viewed as an intermediate stage, which, however, is not identical to Alliance membership and does not replace the legally binding collective defense guarantees insisted upon by Kyiv.