Zelenskyy says willing to drop NATO membership bid ahead of peace talks

The Ukrainian president says Kyiv could driblet its long-held ambition of joining NATO successful speech for Western information guarantees.

Ukraine has indicated it is prepared to driblet its long-held ambition of joining NATO successful speech for Western information guarantees, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said up of meetings with US envoys and European allies successful Berlin.

Zelenskyy described the connection connected Sunday arsenic a concession by Kyiv, aft years of pressing for NATO rank arsenic the strongest deterrent against aboriginal Russian attacks. He said the United States, European partners and different allies could alternatively supply legally binding information guarantees.

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“From the precise beginning, Ukraine’s tendency was to articulation NATO; these are existent information guarantees. Some partners from the US and Europe did not enactment this direction,” Zelenskyy said successful effect to questions from reporters successful a WhatsApp chat.

“Thus, today, bilateral information guarantees betwixt Ukraine and the US, Article 5-like guarantees for america from the US, and information guarantees from European colleagues, arsenic good arsenic different countries – Canada, Japan – are an accidental to forestall different Russian invasion,” helium said.

“And it is already a compromise from our part,” Zelenskyy added, stressing that specified guarantees indispensable beryllium legally binding.

The displacement would people a important alteration for Ukraine, which has agelong sought NATO rank contempt Moscow viewing the alliance’s enlargement arsenic a threat.

While the determination aligns with 1 of Russia’s stated warfare objectives, Kyiv has continued to cull demands to cede territory.

Zelenskyy said helium was seeking a “dignified” bid and steadfast assurances that Russia would not motorboat different attack, arsenic diplomats gathered to sermon what could go Europe’s deadliest struggle since World War II. He besides accused Moscow of prolonging the warfare done sustained attacks connected Ukrainian cities and captious infrastructure.

Pressure to scope a settlement

The talks travel amid unit from US President Donald Trump to scope a settlement. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner connected Sunday arrived successful the German superior metropolis of Berlin for discussions involving Ukrainian and European representatives.

The determination to nonstop Witkoff, who has antecedently led negotiations with some Kyiv and Moscow, suggested Washington saw scope for progress.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine, Europe and the US were reviewing a 20-point program that could culminate successful a ceasefire, though helium reiterated that Kyiv was not holding nonstop talks with Russia. He said a truce on existent beforehand lines could beryllium considered fair, portion noting that Russia continues to request a Ukrainian withdrawal from parts of Donetsk and Luhansk inactive nether Kyiv’s control.

Despite diplomatic efforts, Russian attacks person continued, leaving thousands without electricity successful caller strikes. Ukrainian officials accidental Moscow is deliberately targeting the powerfulness grid to deprive civilians of vigor and h2o during winter.

Fighting has besides intensified successful the Black Sea. Russian forces precocious struck Ukrainian ports, damaging Turkish-owned vessels, including a vessel carrying nutrient supplies. An onslaught connected Odesa acceptable atom silos ablaze, according to Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba. Zelenskyy said the strikes “had nary … subject intent whatsoever”.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against further escalation, saying the Black Sea should not go an “area of confrontation”.

“Everyone needs harmless navigation successful the Black Sea,” Erdogan said, calling for a “limited ceasefire” covering ports and vigor facilities. Turkiye controls the Bosphorus Strait, a captious way for Ukrainian atom and Russian lipid exports.