“Without the U.S., it is not NATO”: Zelenskyy issues stark warning on Europe’s security

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that without support from the United States, NATO is unable to provide reliable protection for its member states.

He made the statement on Friday while speaking at the second National Forum of Talented Youth in Kyiv, according to Interfax-Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said Europe’s security architecture currently depends critically on Washington’s stance, and NATO without U.S. involvement loses its key deterrence role.

“Without the United States, this alliance — I will not make diagnoses — but without America, it is not NATO. It is a union; maybe it is strong, but it is definitely without America. A union without America is not a threat to Russia. In my view, it is not even protection for its own states,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.

He said that Ukraine’s army is now the strongest in Europe, and amid the prospect of U.S. isolationism, Ukraine remains the only force capable of effectively strengthening Europe’s security.

Zelenskyy called on European leaders to safeguard and support Ukraine now.
“If there is aggression tomorrow, or a threat tomorrow, and the United States continues its policy of isolation, there will be no one other than Ukraine to strengthen Europe,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that the position he outlined in Davos may not have been welcomed by all leaders, but said it reflected the reality of Europe’s security situation.