Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that Ukraine will not become a member of NATO. Instead he calls for new formats of interaction with the West and security guarantees.
The Ukrainian president’s comments sparked speculation that he could be laying the groundwork for a peace deal with Moscow, which wants Kyiv barred from joining the alliance.
“Ukraine is not a member of Nato. We understand that. We have heard for years that the doors were open, but we also heard that we could not join. It’s a truth and it must be recognised,” Zelensky said during a video conference with military officials.
He said Nato was the “strongest alliance in the world” – but “some of the members of this alliance are hypnotised by Russian aggression.”
Russia has long demanded that its neighbour never be allowed to join the alliance, and the Kremlin said last week the war would end “in a moment” if Kyiv agreed, and recognised Russian control of Crimea and separatist-held areas.