**Ukraine Needs Western Help to Deter Russia**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that if his country doesn’t join NATO, it will need help from the West to keep a strong army.
Zelensky made these comments on February 14 at a conference in Munich. He wants Ukraine to have an army of 1.5 million soldiers to protect itself against Russia.
**No Clear Path to Joining NATO**
Ukraine has asked to join NATO, but some countries are not sure if this is the right thing to do. To solve this problem, ideas like having European troops in Ukraine have been suggested. However, these ideas need more support from Western leaders.
**Zelensky’s Plan**
Zelensky said that it doesn’t matter where these forces come from. He just wants a strong army to protect Ukraine. He also mentioned that currently, Russia has 220 combat brigades while Ukraine only has 110. To be safe, Zelensky believes Ukraine needs at least 220 troops.
**Ukraine’s History with NATO**
In September 2022, Ukraine officially asked to join NATO after a full-scale invasion by Russia. While some countries say that Ukraine is on its way to becoming a member, they haven’t given an official invitation yet.
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