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Zelensky Ready to Make Concessions on Condition of NATO Protection for Kyiv-Controlled Territories
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed flexibility in his stance regarding the ongoing conflict with Russia. He stated his willingness to make political concessions, provided NATO guarantees the protection of territories currently under Kyiv’s control. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s NATO membership should be considered in exchange for temporarily allowing Russia to retain the territories it has occupied, thereby ending the “hot phase” of the war that has now lasted 33 months.
Earlier, Ukraine acknowledged the lack of consensus among its allies regarding its NATO membership. However, it sent a message to its partners stressing that the invitation remains on the table.
According to Reuters, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga urged NATO counterparts to extend an invitation to Ukraine during next week’s meeting in Brussels.
In an interview with Sky News, Zelensky remarked, “No one has offered us NATO membership for parts of Ukraine. The reality is that this is a solution to end the hot phase of the war, as we can simply grant NATO membership to the Ukrainian territories under government control.” He added that the invitation must encompass all of Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.
Kyiv has so far refused to cede any territory for peace. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin demands Ukraine withdraw further and opposes its NATO membership.
“If we want to end the hot phase of the war, we need to place Ukraine’s territories under our control under NATO’s umbrella,” Zelensky said. He suggested that Ukraine could reclaim occupied regions through diplomatic means afterward.
The plan has not been officially proposed to Ukraine, Zelensky noted, stressing that NATO’s invitation must cover all of Ukraine’s internationally recognized territories. Ukraine’s constitution prohibits acknowledging territories under Russian occupation.
In a recent speech to parliament, Zelensky hinted that not all occupied lands may need to be recovered militarily and that diplomacy could address such issues in the future.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that Zelensky’s comments come amid mounting pressure on Ukraine along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) frontline. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War noted recent Russian advances near Kupiansk, Toretsk, and Pokrovske.
On Friday, Zelensky appointed Mykhailo Drapatiy as the new commander of ground forces to strengthen military leadership. Drapatiy previously led troops in the northeastern Kharkiv region, countering a sudden Russian offensive earlier this year. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said the personnel changes aim to boost the army’s combat readiness.
