Ukraine President Seeking NATO Membership Makes Public Appeal in Speech

"Time to Eliminate Security Uncertainty in Europe"
Hope to Join NATO Security Alliance for 'Collective Defense'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, publicly requested a positive decision regarding his country's accession at the upcoming NATO summit in July.

While visiting the United Kingdom, President Zelensky delivered a virtual speech at the 'Copenhagen Democracy Summit' held in Denmark on the 15th (local time), stating, "It is time to eliminate Europe's greatest security uncertainty," and added, "That is none other than adopting a positive political decision regarding (Ukraine's) NATO membership."

Ukraine has long hoped to join the NATO security alliance, symbolizing a collective defense system, to ensure more reliable security guarantees for the country. His remarks on this day were in line with that stance.

Earlier this month, during a press conference in the Netherlands, Zelensky also said, "I know that during the war, we cannot become a NATO member. Ukraine is realistic," but he expressed a similar view, saying, "After the war, we want a very clear message that we will become a NATO member."

The Copenhagen Democracy Summit, now in its fourth year, is an annual meeting hosted by the non-profit organization 'Democracy Alliance Foundation,' founded in 2017 by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Prime Minister of Denmark and former NATO Secretary General. The summit is attended by politicians, business leaders, and scholars from major countries.

At the meeting, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, also participated virtually and is scheduled to have a dialogue with former Secretary General Rasmussen about the challenges NATO faces.