Ukraine has every reason to seek NATO membership, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a post on X, outlining Europe’s plans for the country’s security after the conflict ends.

According to Macron, participants at the European Political Community summit approved a declaration establishing the principles that should guide Europe’s future security arrangements. The document calls for continued military assistance to Ukraine and preparations for a multinational force that could be deployed on Ukrainian territory following a ceasefire.

The French leader also confirmed that military exercises are currently taking place in Poland to demonstrate European allies' readiness to contribute to regional security. He said discussions on the next steps would continue in Berlin the following week.

Macron stressed that European countries must clearly define their priorities for the postwar period, including the future European security architecture and the role they expect the United States to play in maintaining long-term stability.

The French president also expressed confidence that Ukraine, which he described as possessing Europe’s strongest conventional army, has a central role to play alongside NATO. In his view, the country has every justification for becoming a member of the alliance.

Macron emphasized that Europe’s immediate objective is to secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine before continuing efforts to strengthen collective security across the continent.

Earlier, Vladimir Zelensky said Washington had raised the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO in exchange for withdrawing Ukrainian troops from Donbass for the first time.

Zelensky added that if such a proposal were formally presented and supported by other NATO members, he would put the issue forward for public discussion and a referendum.