Poroshenko at NATO: Ukraine needs offensive weapons in January-February until Russia throws new mobilized troops to the front

"Today at NATO headquarters, we are discussing all day long how to make aid to Ukraine more effective, more comprehensive. I am at the front almost every week, because it is very important to establish communication and convey what our soldiers and officers say they need the most. And communicate this to those who make decisions here, in Brussels, at NATO headquarters," Poroshenko said.

"In my opinion, we need several steps. The first step is, of course, weapons. And the result of Ramstein looks very encouraging, when we will receive almost 1,200 combat armored vehicles. When artillery is already there, they give Ukraine the opportunity to create 8-10 additional divisions, which will take part in spring counteroffensive, as well as strengthen defense capabilities," Ukraine’s 5th president stressed.

"Regarding the issue of Leopard tanks, I am personally very optimistic. I am convinced that this powerful wave of support will eventually quickly lead to the supply of tanks to Ukraine, because we are not satisfied with just promises that we will receive one or another type of weapon in 2023. We need them now, already in January - February. And everything that can be delivered, and earlier than results of Russian mobilization, doubles or triples effectiveness of our defense," Poroshenko emphasizes.

"We must also move on to the supply of F-16 fighters and attack helicopters. Finally, a decision must be made about long-range missiles to attack logistics, warehouses and control points of Russian troops. Today, they are located literally 150-200 km away and feel safe, which is totally unacceptable," the politician said.

"We talked today about air defense and the sharp increase in its capability. We talked today about intelligence, including strategic unmanned aerial vehicles, which our troops need today. We talked about increasing the range of HIMARS, and this conversation was quite productive. In my opinion, a combination of all components, political, military, can lead to results," Poroshenko said.

"In the end, we combined the issue of arms supply with the issue of sanctions, because sanctions should weaken Russia and reduce Russian exports from the current 540-580 billion, because in fact financial volume of Russian exports almost did not fall in 2022,"  Poroshenko stated.

He also noted out the need to start the procedure for Ukraine's accession to NATO.

"They say that we need peace in Ukraine, and only then start accession negotiations. I say, on the contrary, that we first need membership in NATO, without which there will be no quick peace and victory. I think that we managed to convey this. And in the end, I would very much like for us to finally start the procedure for Ukraine's official accession to NATO already at the Vilnius summit this year. This is a long process, it is accompanied by a whole series of reforms," ​​Poroshenko said.

He noted that these same reforms are necessary for Ukraine's EU membership.

"This is the rule of law, democracy, freedom of speech. This is, as they say, pluralism of parties, i.e. multi-party political system. All these things were discussed here and they are key to ensuring democratic development of our state," he stated.

"NATO membership is the only possible guarantee of security against the Russian Federation, which Ukrainian people will accept," Petro Poroshenko summed up.