Thread by @ZelenskyyUa

Today, I addressed the NATO-Ukraine Council. Our fight is not just about Ukraine defending against Russia’s full-scale aggression, but about protecting the rules-based world order.

We do not allow wars of aggression to benefit the aggressor. This is why this Alliance was created – to make sure that those who wage a criminal war against another nation will lose. When our decisions are strong, we ensure the irreversibility of this course.

I am grateful for every air defense system that works to save the lives of our people. I am grateful for the decision on new Patriots and other air defense systems for Ukraine. These systems need to be delivered to Ukraine as soon as possible.

We must protect all our cities. And our partners can help with this. Every announced military package must be delivered to the front as quickly as possible. When this happens, Putin fails – and this is vital.

I am grateful for the permission given to us to strike Russian territory along our border. Thanks to this decision and the courage of our soldiers, we thwarted the Russian offensive on Kharkiv. HIMARS hit military targets near the border, burning Putin’s calculations.

ATACMS, SCALPs, and Storm Shadows would be even more effective if we could hit Russian military airfields from which planes carrying the glided bombs take off. Russia is launching about 3,500 such bombs every month.

It is only fair to destroy those military bases that are attacking us and killing our people. Each of you would defend yourselves in the same way. We need this permission from our partners, and most importantly – from the United States.

We need a sufficient number of F-16s. Russia uses about 300 combat aircraft; we need at least half of that. Training missions for pilots must expand.

How many years will we wait for half of 300 aircraft at the current speed of supply and training? The war shouldn't last that long. And in the case of the F-16s, it is not up to us.

I’m grateful for the NATO-Ukraine Council, created to make our path to the Alliance visible. And the real ticket for Ukraine to join NATO is a just end to this war. Without Ukraine in NATO, European security will never be complete.

Ukraine outside of the Alliance is a temptation for Russia to try aggression again and again, to become an invader, to go into Ukraine and other countries. That is why all formats of our cooperation, including this one, should be a bridge to Ukraine’s victory in this war.

Our victory should become a bridge to lasting peace for all of Europe. All this must be based on one strong word – invitation. Ukraine deserves an invitation to NATO. This certainty will irreversibly become the Alliance’s new, strong pillar. Only strong decisions make winners.