Security guarantees will not replace Ukraine’s accession to NATO – Zelenskyy

Active work on the creation of a "reliable architecture of security guarantees for our country" continued during the year, Zelenskyy said, noted the adoption of the Ukraine Compact at the end of the 75th NATO summit in Washington.

"These guarantees strengthen Ukraine, but do not replace our goal of becoming a member of NATO," he said.

23 "strong agreements" have already been concluded, and agreements with other countries are planned.

"We have a historically important security agreement with the US," he added.

All this work led to long-term commitments:

• regarding military aid
• additional air defense systems
• progress in the issue of the transfer of F-16 aircraft
• development of defense cooperation.

"The Ukraine Compact brings our relations to a new level," he said. "This is a significant achievement for Ukraine and all of us."

The document is open for signing by other countries and fixes long-term military and defense support, the development of the future Ukrainian Defense Forces and the mechanism of emergency consultations between partners in the event of an ongoing escalation of the war or possible aggression in the future.

The Ukrainian agreement was an addition to the G7 Joint Declaration agreed at the previous NATO summit in Vilnius in 2023, the Presidential Office's message said.

Ukraine "deserves an invitation to NATO", Zelensky also said at the Ukraine-NATO Council, and noted Ukraine's role in European security against the backdrop of Russian aggression.

"I am grateful for the Ukraine-NATO Council, which was created to show our way to the Alliance," he said. "And Ukraine's true ticket to NATO will be a fair end to this war. Without Ukraine in NATO, European security will never be complete."

Ukraine outside the Alliance is "a temptation for Russia to try aggression again and again, become an aggressor and attack Ukraine and other countries."

"Therefore, all formats of our cooperation, including this one, should be a bridge to Ukraine's victory in this war," Zelenskyy said. "Our victory should become a bridge to lasting peace for all of Europe. All this should be based on one strong word - invitation. Ukraine deserves to be invited to NATO. This confidence will become a new strong pillar of the Alliance. Only strong decisions make winners."

The signing of the Ukraine Compact at the NATO summit

Allied countries leaders signed the Ukraine Compact — a document containing commitments to support Ukraine following NATO summit results. It unites countries that have signed bilateral security agreements with Ukraine "into a single, coordinated and comprehensive architecture to support Kyiv."

The signatories undertake to support Ukraine in defense by providing military equipment, finance and training to the Ukrainian military