With its application to join NATO, Ukraine "gives a pass" to the Alliance, said President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaking on Thursday via video link at the Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank.
"There is no need to be afraid of anyone. On the contrary, it is necessary to build security guarantees for the whole world, so that the autocratic regime does not think that you can seize peoples and lands," he said.
Without Ukraine, he said, "NATO is not such a strong alliance, especially on the European continent. This is very important for the fortress of the East. We provide a NATO passport. At a time when not only Ukraine must demonstrate Russia's strength, but also when allies, the alliance can demonstrate that they are not afraid of the Russian Federation."
"This is a matter for NATO. But I know that everyone understands that security guarantees are needed, we will go through this path, what it will be depends not only on Ukraine," said Zelenskiy.