Zelensky says Ukraine needs weapons, Nato invite before Russia talks
‘An invitation to join Nato is a necessary thing for our survival’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that his country needed security guarantees from Nato and more weapons to defend itself before any talks to Russia.
He made the comments after meeting the EU’s new head of diplomacy Kaja Kallas and EU Council chief Antonio Costa, who were visiting Kyiv as a show of support on their first day in office.
“An invitation for Ukraine to join Nato is a necessary thing for our survival,” Zelensky said at a press conference with Costa.
Ukraine faces a tough winter ahead, with Russia unleashing devastating barrages against its power grid and Kyiv’s fatigued forces losing ground on the frontline.
Questions are also swirling around the future of US support once Donald Trump assumes the presidency in January, with fears he could force Kyiv to make painful concessions in pursuit of a quick peace deal.
Zelensky said his country needed to be in a “strong position” before any talks to the Kremlin, calling for “steps forward with Nato” and a “good number” of long-distance weapons to defend itself.
