More unity, security guarantees could serve as response to challenges in Europe - Zelensky

MOSCOW. July 5 (Interfax) - Europe could respond to the current challenges by "more unity and security guarantees," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

There are "two concepts: More unity and security guarantees," Zelensky said at the 26th Annual Economist Government Roundtable on Tuesday.

"The future of Europe - calm and peaceful - is simply impossible without it," he said.

Speaking of security guarantees, Zelensky cited Sweden's and Finland's decision to join NATO. "Moscow says - 'let them join'. Although earlier Russia said that the Alliance must return to the borders of 1997. This proves the fact that collective security guarantees work," he said.

Even though Ukraine is not part of NATO, "we need such a system of security guarantees, such a safe space, which can be effective even in conditions when we are not in the Alliance," he said.

"We are not in NATO, but we are on this path. And there must be certainty. And certainty now" as to "what to do to prevent aggression," Zelensky said.