The time has come to create an "armed forces of Europe", said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday morning.
Russia may launch an attack on NATO countries as soon as next year, with preparations for such an attack potentially already in motion.
It was another reference to intelligence that Kyiv believes is reliable on Russian operations in Belarus as early as the summer of 2025.
"We have credible intelligence that Russia is planning to deploy troops to Belarus this summer under the guise of military exercises. However, this is eerily reminiscent of the build-up of forces that preceded the invasion of Ukraine three years ago," he stated.
“Are these forces gathering for an attack on Ukraine? Perhaps they are for your benefit, for Europe. Are your armies prepared? How soon will your allies respond, if at all,” Zelenskyy inquired amidst uncertainty over whether Ukraine or Europe could rely on US support.
Let's be clear, we cannot exclude the possibility that the United States may refuse to collaborate with Europe on matters that pose a threat to it.
Russia's closest ally, which could serve as a launch site for a potential future attack.
"Even though I don't know if they will target Ukraine specifically, I am certain they will launch an attack. They might aim at Ukraine, Poland, or the Baltic countries," Zelenskyy stated.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the criticism by the Trump administration of its NATO allies' defense spending, only Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia have announced significant increases in defense expenditures.
During his speech, Zelenskyy stated that defense spending is crucial, yet it is impossible to safeguard the nation solely with these expenditures.
"It's as simple as standing firm against Russian attacks, as we have already done. However, it's not just about increasing defence spending as a percentage of GDP. Clearly, we need funding, but funding alone cannot halt the enemy's advancement," he clarified.
"Without the Ukrainian army, European armies alone will not be enough to stop Russia. This is the stark reality. Only our army in Europe possesses genuine, contemporary combat experience," Zelenskyy pointed out.
The Ukrainian president stated that he would not exclude the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO and that, in Kyiv's view, it remains a viable option.
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We think that the foundation of any security assurances for Ukraine should be NATO membership. Or conditions that enable us to create another NATO right within Ukraine.
For this, he insisted, Ukraine would have to boost its troop numbers to match Russia's, but it would also require more funding and military supplies to support them.
I ask each of you: if Russia were to come after you, would your army be able to defend itself in the same way? I don't want anyone to ever have to discover that. That is why we are discussing security guarantees.
"For us, it's either NATO membership or creating our own NATO-like structure in Ukraine," Zelenskyy stated.