Zelensky to meet with new EU leadership... to be invited to join NATO

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who met with the EU's new leadership, has repeatedly called for the invitation, saying that Ukraine's membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and NATO must be achieved if it is to survive.

Reuters said President Zelensky made the remarks at a news conference after meeting with new EU summit President António Costa, who visited the capital Kyiv on the 1st local time.

President Zelenskyy said invitations to NATO membership should be made on all Ukrainian territories and stressed that he would never recognize Russian occupation.

He added that there was still time for the U.S. government to persuade skeptics in Europe on NATO membership.

Zelenskyy also called for additional support, saying he needed more weapons to protect his country before any negotiations with Russia.

Earlier, President Zelensky mentioned Ukraine's accession to NATO as a solution to the end of the war, saying that if the accession is approved, a ceasefire can be negotiated even if some of the territory occupied by Russia is not immediately recovered.