Zelensky abandons the ambition of Ukraine joining NATO in exchange for security guarantees

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukraine had abandoned its ambition to join NATO in exchange for Western security guarantees as a compromise to end the war with Russia, at a time when Berlin was hosting peace talks.

Zelensky made this comment while heading to the German capital, where he began meetings with US envoy Steve Witkopf and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, as part of efforts to end the most devastating conflict in Europe since World War II.

This step represents a major shift for Ukraine, which is struggling to join NATO as a guarantee against Russian attacks, and has included this ambition in its constitution.

This step also fulfills one of Russia’s goals in the war, although Kiev has so far adhered to its position of refusing to cede any of its territory to Moscow.

Zelensky met with American envoys in talks hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. A source said that Meretz made brief comments before leaving the two sides to negotiate. Other European leaders are scheduled to arrive in Germany for talks tomorrow, Monday.

Zelensky said ahead of Sunday’s talks that accepting security guarantees provided by the United States, European and other partners, as an alternative to Ukraine’s NATO membership, represents a compromise on Ukraine’s part.

In response to journalists’ questions via WhatsApp, Zelensky said, “From the beginning, Ukraine’s desire was to join NATO… These are real security guarantees. But some partners from the United States and Europe did not support this trend.”

“Therefore, the bilateral security guarantees between Ukraine and the United States, the Article 5-like guarantees (of the NATO Treaty) provided to us by the United States, and the security guarantees from European colleagues, as well as other countries such as Canada and Japan, are an opportunity to prevent another Russian invasion,” he added.

“This is actually a compromise on our part,” he continued, noting that security guarantees must be legally binding.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly demanded that Ukraine formally abandon its ambitions to join NATO and withdraw its forces from about 10 percent of the Donbass region, which Kiev still controls. Moscow also stresses the need for Ukraine to be a neutral country, and not to allow NATO forces to be stationed on its territory.

Russian sources said earlier this year that Putin wanted a “written” pledge from the major Western powers not to expand the US-led NATO eastward, a brief reference to formally excluding membership of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and other republics that were part of the Soviet Union before its collapse.

Zelensky earlier called for a peace that “preserves dignity” and guarantees that Russia would not attack Ukraine again.

Under pressure from Trump to sign a peace deal that initially met Moscow’s demands, Zelensky accused Russia of prolonging the war by bombing cities, energy facilities and water supply facilities in Ukraine.

The dispatch of Witkopf, who led negotiations on a US peace proposal between Ukraine and Russia, is a signal that Washington sees an opportunity to make progress after nearly four years of Russian war that began in 2022.

Zelensky said that Ukraine, European countries and the United States are discussing a 20-item plan and that a ceasefire agreement will eventually be reached, adding that Kiev is not holding direct talks with Russia.

He stated that reaching a ceasefire agreement along the current contact lines would be a fair option.