Zelenskyy stresses 'NATO unity for Ukrainian cause' after meeting with alliance's chief

Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy stressed the importance of unity amongst NATO members for the Ukrainian cause on Thursday after meeting with the alliance’s chief. 

“Strengthening of Ukraine, it's not only depending on the weapon, this kind or that kind. It depends on the will,” he said in a press conference.

“If our partners will not lose their unity, we will not lose.” 

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte responded that “We will not lose that unity,” and that Zelenskyy could count on that. 

Ukranian president has been presenting his five-point “victory plan” to his Western allies, aimed at prompting Russia to end the war through negotiations. 

However, the plan hinges on an element likely to make Western allies baulk – a formal invitation into NATO while the fighting continues.

Rutte said Ukraine will be a member of the alliance “in the future” but declined to give more information about when that would happen. 

In July of this year, the 32 members of NATO declared Ukraine was on an “irreversible” path to membership at a summit in Washington, but have not pinned down a specific date. 

While in Belgium, Zelenskyy also met with EU leaders as part of a wider tour promoting his "victory plan.”