President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi clearly outlined the country's position on NATO membership, stating that Ukraine seeks to receive an invitation to the Alliance within its internationally recognized borders. He announced this during a conversation with journalists, stressing that Kyiv is not ready to discuss possible membership in NATO in exchange for concessions related to the occupied territories.
"We don't discuss it. But I believe that these inclusions in the media are not accidental. Apparently, some partners may have such thoughts. Therefore, they do not directly communicate this issue with me, but through the media, of course, they check its degree. I think everything here depends on the society of Ukraine," the president said.
He emphasized that he wants to receive the invitation during the war, "because it is given to the country within the internationally recognized borders", and for him the "principle thing" is to receive the invitation before the end of the war.
At the same time, Zelenskyi said that "no matter what path we have," legally "no one will recognize the occupied territories as the territories of other states." And he added that according to the conditions and duration of admission "there can be different formats".
