Zelensky Calls NATO Non-Membership ‘Historic Mistake,’ Warns Putin Seeks Further War

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine received no real security guarantees after giving up nuclear weapons and warned Russia is using diplomacy to pursue further gains. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a press conference during a summit with the leaders of NATO's eastern and Nordic members (B9 and Nordic countries) on June 2, 2025 in Vilnius, Lithuania. (Photo by Petras Malukas / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine’s decision to give up its nuclear arsenal without securing NATO membership was a “historic mistake,” arguing the country received no real security guarantees in return. In an interview with The Rest Is Politics podcast published on Friday, April 10, Zelensky said the Budapest Memorandum had failed to provide meaningful protection. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . Zelensky said Russian President Vladimir Putin understands he cannot fully occupy Ukraine militarily but is attempting to achieve strategic goals through diplomacy. He warned that Russia is seeking to push Ukraine out of the Donbas through negotiations with the United States, rather than battlefield advances. According to Zelensky, a full-scale Russian attempt to seize the Donbas would come at an enormous human cost. “It would cost them between 300,000 and 1 million troops,” he said, adding that such losses would be difficult even for Moscow to sustain. Zelensky also rejected any territorial concessions, warning that withdrawing Ukrainian forces from the Donbas would divide the country and create conditions for further Russian offensives. He said Moscow could use any pause in fighting to rebuild its forces, expand its military industry, and push for sanctions relief. The president also outlined what he said were indicators that Russia is not genuinely seeking peace, including refusing direct talks at the leadership level and rejecting proposals to deploy foreign troops along the front line. Other Topics of Interest Zelensky Imposes Sanctions on Russians Linked to Venice Biennale Participation Ukraine sanctioned five Russian cultural figures accused of promoting Kremlin narratives at international events, including the Venice Biennale. Zelensky said Europe must strengthen its security architecture, particularly if US support weakens. He called for deeper cooperation between the European Union, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Turkey, and Norway, arguing that such a bloc would be capable of deterring Russia. Yuliia Zavadska is a news writer at Kyiv Post. She has experience in breaking news coverage, fact-checking, and digital journalism, with a focus on fast, accurate reporting and clear storytelling. Before joining Kyiv Post, she worked as a news feed editor for several leading Ukrainian media outlets.