Zelenskyy Discusses Ukraine’s Security with Trump, Cites NATO and Nuclear Weapons
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared details of a significant discussion he had with former U.S. President Donald Trump concerning Ukraine’s defense strategy, the country’s lack of nuclear weapons, and its evolving relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
In the conversation, Zelenskyy recounted expressing to Trump the difficult position Ukraine finds itself in amidst the ongoing war with Russia. He raised two options for Ukraine’s future security: either Ukraine must acquire nuclear weapons or secure an alliance to defend its sovereignty, with NATO being the most viable option.
“We’ve found ourselves in this situation, so what’s the way out?” Zelenskyy told Trump. “Either Ukraine will have nuclear weapons, and then it will be our defense, or we need to have some kind of alliance. Apart from NATO, we don’t know any effective alliances today.”
The Ukrainian leader also referenced the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, an international agreement in which Ukraine agreed to surrender its nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees from nations including the United States, Russia, and China. Zelenskyy suggested that Ukraine may need to revisit the terms of that agreement, but ultimately clarified, “We choose NATO, not nuclear weapons.”
According to Zelenskyy, Trump responded favorably, acknowledging the Ukrainian president’s reasoning. “You have fair arguments,” Trump reportedly said.
Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO has become a central element of Zelenskyy’s newly proposed “Victory Plan,” which he has shared with several European leaders. This plan outlines Ukraine’s path forward in achieving security and stability as the country continues to defend itself from Russian aggression.
Ukraine’s relationship with NATO has been a critical issue since Russia’s invasion in 2022, with many in Ukraine viewing membership as essential to ensuring long-term protection against further threats from Moscow. However, formal membership requires approval from all current NATO members, making the process complicated and politically sensitive.
The discussion with Trump signals that Ukraine continues to explore all diplomatic channels to secure its future while reaffirming its commitment to aligning with the West.