Video: Zelensky hails Ukraine’s army as Europe’s strongest, slams idea of keeping it out of NATO
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Abdullateef Fowewe
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared on Saturday that Ukraine’s military stands as the strongest in Europe, crediting its “heroes” and urging NATO to integrate it fully amid the grinding war with Russia.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy made a passionate case for membership, stating, “The Ukrainian Army is the strongest army in Europe, thanks to our heroes. And I think it is simply not smart to keep this army outside NATO.”
The bold assertion highlights Ukraine’s battle-hardened forces, modernised through over $170 billion in Western aid since 2022, according to Kiel Institute data.
While Russia’s military leads Europe in raw numbers with 1.3 million active personnel versus Ukraine’s 900,000 (per Global Firepower’s 2026 rankings), Zelenskyy emphasised combat experience and technological upgrades as key edges.
Zelenskyy also took aim at Russian President Vladimir Putin, portraying him as trapped in endless conflict, “Putin may see himself as a Tsar, but in reality, he is a slave to war. And if he lives another 10 years? We understand that it is possible. He could regroup, rebuild, and expand again.”
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