Kyiv, February 12 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine will require U.S. assistance to bolster its military to a size comparable to Russia's, serving as a "Plan B" if the country is not accepted into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Having been embroiled in a full-scale conflict with invading Russian forces since February 2022, Kyiv has emphasized that NATO membership represents the most effective and cost-efficient strategy to deter any future Russian aggression following a ceasefire or peace agreement.
"If Ukraine is not in NATO, it means that Ukraine will build NATO on its territory. So we need an army as numerous as the Russians have today," Zelenskiy asserted in an interview with The Economist on Wednesday.
Zelenskiy further highlighted the necessity for weaponry and financial support, indicating that the U.S. would be approached for assistance, constituting his backup strategy.
While Washington, along with other NATO members, currently opposes Ukraine's accession to the organization, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized on Wednesday that the United States does not view Kyiv's NATO membership as part of its peace plan for Ukraine.
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump expressing his desire to swiftly conclude the conflict in Ukraine, no concrete action plan has been disclosed publicly.
This week, Zelenskiy and other high-ranking Ukrainian officials are scheduled to engage with members of Trump's administration on the sidelines of the annual Munich Security Conference to address the ongoing war.