Zelenskyy compares debate on Ukraine’s invitation to NATO to previous discussions on providing Patriot or F-16

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy compared the current debate among Western officials over inviting Ukraine to NATO to previous discussions about providing Ukraine with Patriot missile systems or F-16 fighter jets, when Western leaders initially refused and then gradually came to an agreement.

"The reaction to the Victory Plan [the first point of which is Ukraine’s invitation to NATO] is exactly the same as to the F-16 Patriots ... But we must do this. This is the only way we can survive. The war will not end until Putin feels that he must end it. And he understands only force," Zelenskyy said in an interview with the Financial Times, published on Friday.

"This does not depend on Russia, but on the will of our partners. Most of them are on our side. But we must put pressure on others," the president added.

He noted that inviting Ukraine to NATO would raise the morale of Ukrainians and Ukrainian defenders. "The invitation means another step towards NATO, which means that their children will not die. Never as we will be a member of NATO. If we do not receive an invitation to NATO, morale will disintegrate," the head of the Ukrainian state emphasized.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine's accession to the North Atlantic Alliance is necessary in order to bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.

"We cannot be very strong without having an invitation that strengthens our diplomatic path to ending the war ...This war will end when Putin is isolated and other partners are pushed toward diplomacy," the president explained.