Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed frustration over President Biden’s rejection of Ukraine’s NATO membership during the ongoing war with Russia. Zelenskyy’s remarks, made via social media, were in response to Biden’s CNN interview in which he cited concerns, including a lack of democratization in Ukraine, as reasons for the rejection.
Key Points:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the denial of Ukraine’s NATO membership, terming it “unprecedented and absurd”.
- In a CNN interview, President Biden clarified that he does not support Ukraine joining NATO amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia, raising issues such as a lack of democratization as reasons for Ukraine’s ineligibility.
- Zelenskyy argued that not working towards including Ukraine in NATO left a window open to negotiating the country’s membership with Russia, thus motivating Russia to continue its actions.
- Some world leaders, including Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have suggested that Ukraine’s joining NATO could trigger more aggression from Russia rather than deter it.
- Biden added that allowing Ukraine to join NATO during the ongoing conflict would compel the alliance to go to war against Russia.
