Zelensky Calls for Army of 1.5 Million Soldiers
At the Munich Security Conference, Vladimir Zelensky emphasized the need for Europe to assist Ukraine in strengthening its military until the country becomes a NATO member. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Europe needs to assist Ukraine in strengthening its military until the country becomes a NATO member, according to the nation’s leader, who spoke at the Munich Security Conference.
President Vladimir Zelensky has made a renewed appeal to Ukraine's Western allies following comments from the US that Kyiv's aspirations for NATO membership are “unrealistic.” During his address on Friday, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine requires an army of approximately 1.5 million soldiers.
He cautioned that without NATO membership, Ukraine must enhance its defense capabilities in collaboration with Western Europe. Zelensky asserted that joining NATO is the most effective and “cheapest” solution for ensuring Ukraine's security.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described Kyiv's NATO ambitions as “unrealistic,” a position that US President Donald Trump echoed shortly thereafter.
Zelensky argued, “Until we are part of NATO, we need an army capable of protecting the country. This means NATO-standard weaponry and a sufficient number of trained Ukrainian troops. Based on calculations with our military leadership, that means an army of 1.5 million soldiers.”
Russia has consistently argued that Ukraine's desire to join the US-led military alliance is a fundamental reason for the ongoing conflict. Recently, Trump attributed the hostilities to the support his predecessor Joe Biden provided for Ukraine's NATO ambitions.
During a phone call on Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the US President announced that Moscow and Washington would commence immediate negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
In January, Zelensky suggested the deployment of at least 200,000 European soldiers as peacekeepers in Ukraine to uphold any potential peace agreement with Russia. In an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman, Zelensky indicated that Ukraine currently has 980,000 military personnel active.
To sustain an army of 1.5 million, Zelensky highlighted the necessity for a 50% increase in funding and raised concerns about who would finance this endeavor.
The Trump administration has recently halted all foreign aid from the US, including support for Ukraine, amid a comprehensive review of government spending. Additionally, many EU and NATO members have not met the bloc’s defense spending goal of 2% of Gross Domestic Product.
Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, Western nations have extended over $82 billion in aid to Ukraine annually, according to data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. A recent press release by the think tank notes that the EU has contributed nearly $64 billion in military aid, while the US has provided about $66 billion.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
President Vladimir Zelensky has made a renewed appeal to Ukraine's Western allies following comments from the US that Kyiv's aspirations for NATO membership are “unrealistic.” During his address on Friday, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine requires an army of approximately 1.5 million soldiers.
He cautioned that without NATO membership, Ukraine must enhance its defense capabilities in collaboration with Western Europe. Zelensky asserted that joining NATO is the most effective and “cheapest” solution for ensuring Ukraine's security.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described Kyiv's NATO ambitions as “unrealistic,” a position that US President Donald Trump echoed shortly thereafter.
Zelensky argued, “Until we are part of NATO, we need an army capable of protecting the country. This means NATO-standard weaponry and a sufficient number of trained Ukrainian troops. Based on calculations with our military leadership, that means an army of 1.5 million soldiers.”
Russia has consistently argued that Ukraine's desire to join the US-led military alliance is a fundamental reason for the ongoing conflict. Recently, Trump attributed the hostilities to the support his predecessor Joe Biden provided for Ukraine's NATO ambitions.
During a phone call on Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the US President announced that Moscow and Washington would commence immediate negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
In January, Zelensky suggested the deployment of at least 200,000 European soldiers as peacekeepers in Ukraine to uphold any potential peace agreement with Russia. In an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman, Zelensky indicated that Ukraine currently has 980,000 military personnel active.
To sustain an army of 1.5 million, Zelensky highlighted the necessity for a 50% increase in funding and raised concerns about who would finance this endeavor.
The Trump administration has recently halted all foreign aid from the US, including support for Ukraine, amid a comprehensive review of government spending. Additionally, many EU and NATO members have not met the bloc’s defense spending goal of 2% of Gross Domestic Product.
Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, Western nations have extended over $82 billion in aid to Ukraine annually, according to data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. A recent press release by the think tank notes that the EU has contributed nearly $64 billion in military aid, while the US has provided about $66 billion.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
