Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Sunday that Ukraine is prepared to abandon its longstanding goal of joining NATO as part of ongoing negotiations aimed at securing an end to Russia’s war. The shift marks one of Kyiv’s most significant public concessions since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
The statement came as Zelensky met in Brussels with President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who are participating in U.S.–backed peace discussions hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The talks, which lasted more than five hours, form part of a broader diplomatic effort to reach a settlement with Russia.
Before entering the meeting with the American envoys, Zelensky told journalists via WhatsApp that Ukraine was prepared to set aside its bid for NATO membership—a strategic objective Kyiv has pursued since the early 2000s and one it considers fundamental to its long-term security.
“From the very beginning, Ukraine’s conditions – or perhaps more accurately, our ambition – was NATO membership,” Zelensky said. “And that would have provided real security guarantees. Some partners from the United States and Europe did not support this direction.”
Zelensky said Ukraine would instead seek bilateral security guarantees from the United States and other Western partners, describing them as a necessary compromise in pursuit of peace.
“That is why today the bilateral security guarantees between Ukraine and the United States, specifically Article 5–like guarantees from the United States for us, and the security guarantees from our European colleagues for us, as well as from other countries such as Canada and Japan – these security guarantees for us provide an opportunity to prevent another outbreak of Russian aggression,” he said. “And this already is a compromise on our part.”
Russia’s Longstanding Objection to NATO Expansion
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly framed Ukraine’s desire to join NATO as a direct security threat to Russia, citing it as a principal justification for the February 2022 invasion. The Kremlin has consistently demanded that Kyiv formally renounce NATO membership as a condition for any negotiated settlement.
Zelensky’s announcement aligns with one of Moscow’s core demands, raising concerns among some Western observers that the current discussions are moving in a direction more favorable to Russian interests. This is not the first time the negotiation process has appeared to reflect such a shift.
Inside the Trump Team’s Mediation Style
People familiar with Trump’s diplomatic approach have suggested that his negotiation philosophy may influence the dynamic of the talks.
“Trump is like that,” one person said. “He kind of likes people competing against each other. He thinks it makes the product better.”
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