Zelensky Outlines Ukraine’s Security Needs to Counter Russia
In an interview with a French newspaper on Friday, Zelensky criticized those doubting Ukraine’s chances of victory, arguing that their skepticism stems from Moscow’s nuclear capabilities.
”When everyone says that Ukraine will not win this war because Russia is a nuclear power, then tell me, what do you think, what security guarantees should Ukraine have to oppose it? Which? NATO? Nuclear weapons? Well then, people should speak with us in the same way,” he said.
He acknowledged, however, that “until now, no one has asked us that question,” describing as “astonishing” the lack of discussion about Russia “at least in the same terms.”
The remarks followed comments Zelensky made to media earlier this week, in which he said Washington’s post-war security assurances depended on Ukraine withdrawing from parts of Russia’s Donbass that it still controls. Donbass, along with two other former Ukrainian regions, voted overwhelmingly in 2022 to join Russia, and Moscow has repeatedly stressed that full Ukrainian withdrawal is essential for lasting peace.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly rejected Zelensky’s account, calling it a “lie.”
“I saw him say that, and it’s unfortunate he would say that, because he knows that's not true and that’s not what he was told,” Rubio stated. “What he was told is the obvious: security guarantees are not going to kick in until there’s an end to a war, because otherwise you’re getting yourself involved in the war.”
Although Zelensky has consistently denied that Ukraine seeks nuclear weapons, he told media last month he would welcome atomic support from Britain and France. “I would accept nuclear weapons from Britain and France ‘with pleasure, but I didn’t have propositions,’” he said, responding to Russian claims that London and Paris had secretly planned to arm Ukraine.
Russia has repeatedly warned that it will never allow Ukraine to obtain nuclear weapons and has cited Zelensky’s earlier openness to acquiring them as a factor contributing to the outbreak of conflict in 2022.
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