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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview that if the United States were to withdraw from NATO, European security would need to be built around an expanded European Union including the U.K., Ukraine, Türkiye and Norway.
Speaking on "The Rest Is Politics" podcast, Zelenskyy said the EU in its current form would not be sufficient to guarantee security and would need to include additional countries to counter Russia.
Zelenskyy said that if the United States truly considers withdrawing from NATO, then European security would be based solely on the European Union.
However, he said this could not work in its current form and that the EU would need to expand.
He named the U.K., Ukraine, Türkiye and Norway as key countries that should be included, describing them as strong European states.
Zelenskyy said that together, the U.K., Ukraine and Türkiye have armies stronger than Russia's.
He said that without Ukraine and Türkiye, Europe cannot match Russia militarily.
According to Zelenskyy, with the inclusion of all four countries, Europe would be able to control the seas, secure its airspace and maintain the largest land forces.
Zelenskyy said the issue is not about offense but about ensuring security and preserving independence.
He said Europe must take into account Russia's decision to build an army of 2.5 million personnel by 2030.
He framed the need for stronger security arrangements as a response to that development.
Zelenskyy noted that the U.K. was once a member of the EU and said there are concerns regarding agriculture when it comes to Türkiye.
However, he said such issues can be managed if there is a strong economy.
He said security must come first and the economy second, not the other way around.
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