Zelenskyy opposed to amending Constitution on Ukraine's NATO aspirations

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is aware of the US block on Ukraine's NATO aspirations, but he does not consider it necessary to change the policy set out in the Constitution on joining the Alliance.

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference after a meeting of the European Council in Brussels, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy pointed out that American scepticism about NATO membership for Ukraine emerged under the previous US administration. He said he had asked former US president Joe Biden directly whether Ukraine could join NATO.

"This was before the [full-scale] war. President Biden told me: 'No, you will not be in NATO.' I kept bringing up this question every time, to the point that it made some people in the White House smile," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy implied that no substantive arguments against NATO membership for Ukraine had been presented to him.

"I don't understand when I'm told 'We're not against it in principle, but you won't be in NATO,' because that means someone is against it. And we should be open about who is against it," he said.

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Ukraine has repeatedly stated that the real source of the veto on its NATO aspirations is Russia, whose demands are being accommodated by some NATO member states. Zelenskyy did not elaborate on this point in Brussels.

He also recalled that Ukraine's goal of joining NATO is enshrined in the Constitution.

"Frankly, I do not believe that we need to change our state's Constitution [on this issue]," the president said.

"It is for the Ukrainian people to decide what to do with our Constitution and no one else. It certainly shouldn't be [changed] as a result of demands from the Russian Federation or anyone else. This is our Constitution and our policy," Zelenskyy noted, adding that he is confident that NATO membership remains the best possible option for Ukraine's security guarantees.

Zelenskyy added that he hopes US policy on NATO membership for Ukraine may change over time.

Background:

• It was previously reported that talks with the United States have not determined whether Ukraine's security guarantees would be time-limited.
• Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that the key issue in the "peace process" is the security guarantees, not the wording on NATO.

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