Zelensky: If Americans don't want Ukraine in NATO, let them take the responsibility for it, and not force Ukraine change its Constitution

From UNIAN:

"Zelenskyy explained why Ukraine doesn't need to change the Constitution regarding NATO

Vitaliy Saenko, 12/18/25 

The President believes that Ukraine deserves security guarantees such as membership in the Alliance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that the Ukrainian people should decide what changes to make to the Constitution. However, regarding the issue of seeking NATO membership, the Constitution should not be amended simply because Russia opposes Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration. According to a UNIAN correspondent, Zelenskyy stated this at a press conference in Brussels, where a summit of EU leaders is taking place today. 

Specifically, the president was asked whether it was correct to understand that Ukraine was abandoning its aspirations for NATO membership, and whether the corresponding amendments would be made to the Ukrainian Constitution. 

"I don't know how my words were interpreted," Zelenskyy said. 

He recalled that, from the very first days of his interaction with former US President Joe Biden, he asked whether Ukraine could gain membership in the Alliance. Because Ukraine aspired to it and understood that it would provide real security guarantees. 

"This was before the [full-scale] war. President Biden told me, 'No, you won't be in NATO.' I approached this issue every time, and it's already elicited smiles from someone in the White House, along with all sorts of reactions. They always said I was tough. I don't know why. And frankly, I don't understand it when a country says, 'We're not against it, but you won't be there.' I believe you won't be there because someone is against it. And we need to be frank about who's against it, and then resolve these issues, or not resolve them," Zelenskyy noted. 

"Frankly, I don't think we need to change our country's Constitution. First of all, it's the Constitution of Ukraine, and let the Ukrainian people decide what to do with our Constitution, not someone else. Certainly not because of calls from the Russian Federation or anyone else. This is our Constitution. And this is our course. We wanted these security guarantees. We believe we deserve them," the Ukrainian leader emphasized.

At the same time, he said, US policy is consistent and unchanged regarding Ukraine's prospects for NATO membership. The president added: 

"They don't see us there. For now. Look, it's all part of our lives for now. Maybe in the future, the position will change. Maybe someone will realize that a strong Ukrainian army strengthens NATO, and not vice versa. It's a matter of politics. The world changes. Some live, some die. That's life. And we are fighting for security guarantees. Today, they are the ones we are discussing."  

He believes his words cannot be interpreted any other way. 

The President reiterated that he is not the one deciding the NATO membership issue, and that this matter is solely within the purview of the Alliance's member countries. 

"Their desire to see us there, or their reluctance. Their agreements with Russia—or rather, not agreements—are a little different. Our position remains unchanged—we deserve it. We would like to have such security guarantees. And the position of our partners, for now, remains unchanged. And let them be responsible for these changes, or lack thereof. In my view, this is fair," Zelenskyy asserted. 

As UNIAN reported, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Hungary, the United States, Slovakia, and possibly several other countries do not support Ukraine's membership in the Alliance. 

The first draft of the "peace plan," which the United States handed over to Ukraine in November, included a clause requiring Ukraine to enshrine its refusal to join NATO in its Constitution."