Zelenskyy: Germany Will Only Support Ukraine's NATO Membership with U.S. Approval

Ukraine’s president, Volodimir Zelenskyy, hopes allies will adopt a more positive stance on his “victory plan” after the U.S. election, but acknowledges that some major Western partners, notably Germany, are not welcoming its key demand, an invitation to join NATO.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was also likely looking at the post-election scenario in the U.S. to assess the possibility of cease-fire talks with Ukraine, estimating that if partial cease-fire agreements could be reached over attacks on energy infrastructure and Black Sea shipping routes, it would mark the end of the war’s “hot phase.”

Zelenskyy spoke to journalists on Monday, but his remarks were banned until Tuesday.He stated that although the United States is considering his proposal, he does not anticipate a significant reaction until after the election on November 5.

“They said, yes, we’ve started working on the Victory Plan, they want to analyze everything, and so on. But it’s very clear to me that all the major partners, especially during the election period, will be afraid of Russia’s reaction,” he said.

“Because they understand that with this package, we can destroy them.”

According to Zelenskyy, France, Britain, and Italy have expressed support for NATO.

But Germany is hesitant, and Zelenskyy thinks that only a U.S. approval will persuade Berlin to embrace the proposal.

“But the fact is that the German side is skeptical about our NATO membership — that’s a fact. I believe their stance is softer than it was before — this is also a fact.

“But when it comes to the invitation I’m talking about now, they are afraid of … Russia’s reaction,” he said.

“I believe that their position will be influenced by a bigger alliance.

A bigger alliance in supporting us — a confident “Yes” from the United States.”

The president stated that decisions made after the contentious election process will determine many important issues.

“After the elections, we hope for a more positive reaction from the U.S. — not because of a change in the president, but because the focus of the United States is now on the elections, and I believe that any sharp statements from the U.S. today might be inappropriate or carry risks.

I think they don’t want unnecessary risks,” he said.Zelenskyy remarked, “Over the years, people’s overall blood pressure rises,” in response to a question about whether he was under pressure from allies to end the conflict.

Reports of a potential cease-fire scenario in which Ukraine traded occupied regions for NATO membership were rejected by him.“We are not discussing this.

But I think that these media leaks are not accidental. Perhaps some partners may have such thoughts. They don’t communicate this directly with me, but through the media, it’s clear they’re testing its reception.

He claimed that if an agreement could be struck with Russia to stop strikes on Black Sea ports, shipping lanes, and energy infrastructure, the “hot phase” of the conflict wouldcome to an end.

In this scenario, he claimed, both front-line combat and attacks on military targets will continue.

He stated that in order to pressure

Moscow to accept Kyiv’s demands, he intends to persuade nations in the Global South to support Ukraine’s proposal.

In order to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyy stated that his nation is not pursuing nuclear weapons.

“We are not asking to be given or returned nuclear weapons.

My position is very clear. We gave them up, but we got nothing in return. And we only received a full-scale war and many casualties, so today we have only one way out.

That’s why we need NATO, because we don’t have the weapons that can stop Putin.”