Zelenskyy: Ukraine needs the largest army in Europe, even on the path to NATO

The statement was made during a meeting with journalists in Brussels, as reported by "European Pravda".

"The best guarantee is a strong army, a large army. The largest army in Europe. We simply cannot afford to limit the strength of our army in any case, even on the path to NATO. As long as we are not in NATO, we remain at risk," Zelenskyy stressed.

Addressing potential security guarantees, the President underscored that NATO membership would be the most reliable assurance for Ukraine. At the same time, Kyiv is considering other types of guarantees, such as sanctions-based or financial mechanisms, but he acknowledged their limitations.

"All of this is not enough to ensure that Putin won’t return," Zelenskyy stated, adding that Ukraine cannot agree to any restrictions on its defense capabilities.

The President also highlighted that a robust economy must be part of the guarantees, including addressing the budget deficit during wartime. According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine is already making progress in this area.

"We know how to cover the deficit in 2025," he added.

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