The President of Ukraine on NATO membership
Key Takeaways:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy blasted European lawmakers for their silence on Ukraine's NATO membership under Russian aggression.
- Amid international diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis, Zelensky claimed that Russia will have to negotiate "sooner or later."
Amid Russian aggression, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy chastised European politicians for their silence on Ukraine's NATO membership. Zelenskiy claimed he spoke with 27 European leaders about Ukraine's chances of joining the intergovernmental military alliance during a late-night speech to the country, but no one responded positively.
'I've asked 27 European leaders if Ukraine would join NATO... Everyone is terrified, and no one responds,' says the author, according to Zelenskiy.
In an attempt to reassure civilians that Ukrainian soldiers are "doing all possible," Zelenskiy praised Ukrainians for their "heroism" in the face of Russian military advances. He warned citizens to be cautious and follow curfew laws, saying that Russian "sabotage groups" had invaded Kyiv.
Amid international diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the issue in Ukraine, Zelensky stated that "sooner or later," Russia will have to talk. As air raid sirens continued to wail over Kyiv, he urged Russians to resist the Ukraine conflict and pledged to remain in the Ukrainian capital.
"The adversary has me listed as the number one target," Zelenskiy explained. "My family is the second-most-wanted target. They seek to destabilize Ukraine politically by assassinating the president."
"I intend to remain in the capital. My family has also relocated to Ukraine."
Meanwhile, the US-led West is preparing a draught resolution calling for Russia's use of force against Ukraine to cease immediately, as well as the unconditional withdrawal of all of its armed forces from Ukraine's territory.
The resolution condemns Russia's recognition of separatist portions of eastern Ukraine as autonomous entities, calling it a breach of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty and "inconsistent with the principles of the United Nations Charter."
"Allow and support the swift, safe, and unfettered delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need in Ukraine, to safeguard civilians, humanitarian staff, and people in vulnerable situations, especially children," the draught resolution says.