NATO invitation should extend to Ukraine’s entire territory - Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in an interview with CBN, Ukrinform reports.

"What they claim that Ukraine seeks to drag NATO (into the war with Russia - ed.) is untrue. That's why we wanted an invitation (to NATO - ed.), and we know that amid the war we will not be accepted into NATO. But if we really want to end the war, (they – ed.) must give Ukraine (the invitation - ed.).

“The invitation has to extend to the entire territory of Ukraine, within internationally recognized borders. There is nothing else to talk about here because this is our constitution and international law. Therefore, an invitation should be given within internationally recognized borders. But action on the part of the Alliance may be restricted to the part that Ukraine controls, with future expansion," Zelensky said.

Currently, according to the president, there is no "global umbrella" and security guarantee other than NATO.

The president of Ukraine recalled that the country had already concluded nearly 20 bilateral agreements on security guarantees. They are about financial, humanitarian, healthcare, energy, and other assistance, protection of the sky, as well as weapons, and sanctions policy. But among the models of security guarantees that provide for border protection, NATO is currently the one that is efficient, he emphasized.

Zelensky added that inviting Ukraine to join NATO would the first step which would not equal to membership. This, Zelensky believes, is about honest relations, an honest answer to the question of whether Ukraine will eventually be in NATO. And this step will send Vladimir Putin a clear signal that Ukraine will be part of the Alliance.

At the same time, the head of state emphasized Ukraine understands that accession to NATO is impossible as long as the war rages on its territory, and "does not want to involve troops from other countries in this war."

As Ukrinform reported, Politico, citing four American and NATO officials, wrote that Germany and the United States are among the largest powers that are in no rush to invite Ukraine to NATO.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters during U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to Berlin last week: "We are doing everything possible to ensure that NATO does not become a party to the war, that this war does not turn into a much bigger catastrophe."

Hungary and Slovakia are also resisting such a move – because their current leaders retain a generally pro-Kremlin position.

Countries like Belgium, Slovenia, or Spain are “hiding” behind the U.S. and Germany, remaining unwilling to invite Ukraine to NATO, said one NATO official. Another official added that the countries support this idea in the abstract, but as soon as it gets closer to materializing, they will oppose it more publicly.

Among the few more enthusiastic about inviting Ukraine are the Baltic States and Poland. The latter is in favor of "opening the prospect of NATO membership for Ukraine," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

However, officials who spoke to Politico emphasized that neither the United States nor Germany are ruling out the possibility of Ukraine joining the Alliance.