Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described his country's armed forces as effectively "NATO's second-strongest army," arguing that the alliance needs Ukraine as much as Ukraine needs NATO.
"NATO needs us," Zelensky told journalists, according to the Hromadske news website.
He said this was already recognized by NATO leaders and argued that Ukraine's military had proven capable of holding off Russian forces, widely regarded as one of the world's most powerful armies, for more than four years.
Ukraine is not a member of NATO, whose strongest military is that of the United States. One of Moscow's stated war aims is to prevent Kiev from joining the Western military alliance, a goal enshrined in Ukraine's constitution.
Since Washington launched efforts to mediate an end to the war, Ukraine's NATO ambitions have effectively been put on hold.
Zelensky also claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to remain in power until his death and seeks to restore the Soviet Union, which collapsed in 1991.
"Without Ukraine, that is impossible, and that is why it is so difficult for us, dear Ukrainians," he said.
Zelensky delivers ultimatum to Belarus
Separately, speaking alongside Honduran President Nasry Asfura during the latter's first visit to Ukraine, Zelensky accused Belarus of installing signal relay stations used to guide Russian drone attacks against Ukraine.
He demanded that Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko remove the equipment within a week.
"If he does not do it, we will," Zelensky said in Kiev.
Belarus is Russia's closest ally and served as a staging ground for Russian troops during the initial phase of the invasion in February 2022. Zelensky has repeatedly warned that Moscow is seeking to draw Belarus more directly into the conflict.
Russian attacks continue
Meanwhile, Russian attacks across Ukraine continued on Friday.
Officials said at least 13 people, including children, were killed and more than 30 injured in attacks on the eastern city of Kramatorsk, the south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region and the north-eastern city of Kharkiv. Kharkiv authorities said more than 40 homes were damaged in an airstrike involving guided glide bombs.
Ukrainian authorities also reported drone attacks on two civilian merchant vessels in the Black Sea. A crew member aboard a Panamanian-flagged ship was killed and several other seafarers were injured on the two vessels, officials said.
