Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reportedly abandoned Ukraine’s bid to join NATO, marking a significant concession ahead of peace talks with U.S. officials in Berlin on Sunday. According to The Washington Times, the move comes as Kyiv seeks to advance negotiations aimed at ending the war with Russia.
Mr. Zelenskyy said in a WhatsApp chat with reporters that Ukraine had already compromised on its ambition to join the 32-member alliance, an idea strongly opposed by Russia and discouraged by the Trump administration. The U.S. has instead favored vague security guarantees from Washington and European partners as part of its proposed peace framework.
“From the very beginning, Ukraine’s desire was to join NATO, these are real security guarantees… And it is already a compromise from our part,” Mr. Zelenskyy said. He added that “Article 5-like guarantees” from the U.S. and security assurances from Europe, Canada, and Japan could help prevent future Russian invasions.