Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed that Germany is skeptical about Ukraine's possible membership in NATO. Nevertheless, he was confident that the other allied countries could influence Berlin to make a positive decision regarding this matter. Zelensky emphasized that he is willing to cede territories in exchange for Ukraine's accession to NATO and criticized "some allies" for raising this option through the media instead of addressing it directly with him. In line with what he proposes in his 'Victory Plan', he urged allies to extend a firm invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance before the war ends.
Ukraine's population has experienced a decline of more than 10 million people since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, which has exacerbated the demographic crisis that the country has been suffering from for years, according to a report by the UN this Tuesday. The director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Florence Bauer, explained that some regions have become largely depopulated, with young people leaving the area and a significant number of deaths due to the conflict. Bauer highlighted that Ukraine was already facing a demographic decline due to low birth rates, high mortality rates, and emigration, a situation that has worsened during the war.
President Zelensky also mentioned that Germany is the second country that provides the most support to Ukraine. Zelensky thanked Scholz for his assistance and pointed out that he prefers to express things as he sees them, rather than adapting them to what is convenient for people.
