Zelenskyy: NATO should have been price for giving up nuclear weapons

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Europe’s security architecture would need to be fundamentally reshaped if the United States were to withdraw from NATO, arguing that a broader coalition of European states would be required to counter Russia.

In an interview on The Rest Is Politics podcast, Zelenskyy suggested that European security in such a scenario would depend on expanding the European Union to include several non-member countries with strong military capabilities, Caliber.Az reports.

“If the United States truly thinks about withdrawing from NATO, then European security will be based solely on the European Union. But not in its current form,” he said. “I think that the EU is in a situation where it needs more countries. The UK, Ukraine, Türkiye, and Norway. These are four strong countries, which are part of Europe.”

If the United States truly thinks about withdrawing from NATO, then European security will be based solely on the European Union. But not in its current form. I think that the EU is in a situation where it needs more countries.

The UK, Ukraine, Türkiye, and Norway. These are… pic.twitter.com/3428WkklSQ

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 10, 2026

He argued that a combined European force including these states would significantly alter the balance of power with Russia.

“Together, the UK, Ukraine, and Türkiye have armies that are stronger than Russia's army,” Zelenskyy said. “Without Ukraine and Türkiye, Europe can’t match Russia. With the four countries on board you can wrest control of the seas, have secure skies and the largest land forces.”

He added that the discussion was not about offensive capabilities, but about deterrence and long-term security planning in response to Russia’s military buildup.

“It’s not about offense, because when Russia makes the decision to have an army of 2.5 million people by 2030, Europe has to think about security and how to preserve its independence,” he said, noting that economic and political concerns, including EU enlargement challenges, could be managed if security priorities were addressed first.

Zelenskyy also reflected on Ukraine’s decision to relinquish its nuclear arsenal in the 1990s under the Budapest Memorandum, saying the security assurances it received were inadequate.

“When Ukraine agreed to give up nuclear weapons, the price that the other side had to pay had to be fair,” he said. “I think NATO membership was the smallest thing leaders of Ukraine had to get in exchange for the nuclear arms. What did we get? Nothing. It was not a fair game, and a big mistake.”

He further criticised the guarantees provided under the agreement, which involved nuclear powers including Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

“Not only a Ukrainian mistake, but also a mistake by other signatories of the Budapest Memorandum,” Zelenskyy said. “These are nuclear countries. If they asked you to give up nuclear weapons, they should have provided you with a security umbrella. Perhaps a nuclear umbrella.”

“Ultimately, all of it was a deception. Our nuclear weapons were largely transferred to Russia,” he added, referring to strategic military assets inherited by Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

By Sabina Mammadli