President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed that the regions of Ukraine currently under his administration be placed “under the Nato umbrella” to halt the ongoing “hot phase” of the conflict.
During an extensive interview with Sky News, the president of Ukraine was questioned about the possibility of accepting NATO membership, contingent upon the territory currently under Kyiv’s control.
Zelensky stated that he would consider the offer, but only if NATO membership was extended to all of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, as a prerequisite.
He stated that Ukraine might seek to negotiate the return of territory presently held by Russia “in a diplomatic way.”
The proposal remains largely theoretical. Zelensky emphasized that this is the first time anyone has made such an offer.
The likelihood of NATO contemplating such a move remains highly questionable.
“Ukraine has never entertained such a proposal, as no official offer has been made to us,” Zelensky stated.
The official stated that NATO should extend membership to the entire nation, encompassing regions currently under Russian control.
The president stated, “You can’t give an invitation to just one part of a country,” as reported by Sky News through a translation. What is the reason behind this? It is essential to understand that Ukraine comprises only its recognized territory, while the remaining area is considered part of Russia.
He noted that while many individuals advocated for ceasefires, the absence of a mechanism to deter further Russian aggression rendered such agreements perilously ineffective.
He asserted that only NATO membership could provide such a guarantee.
The president of Ukraine has expressed optimism that the conflict may conclude within the next year, contingent upon the determination of Ukraine’s allies.
Sources indicate that conversations surrounding the West German model—where NATO membership was extended to a divided nation—have been ongoing in Western circles for over a year.
However, formal proposals have yet to be put forward.
During his campaign, President-elect Trump promised to conclude the war within “24 hours.”
Individuals in his circle, including Vice President-elect JD Vance, have indicated that this could entail concessions for Ukraine, potentially involving relinquishing territory in the Donbas and Crimea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Kyiv aims to conclude the war via “diplomatic means” by 2025.
2014, Russia took control of the Crimean peninsula, which sparked significant international controversy. Eight years later, a full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched, resulting in the occupation of territory in the eastern part of the country.
It is essential to highlight that, to date, President Vladimir Putin of Russia has shown no signs of relinquishing his ambition to dominate Ukraine fully.
At this moment, the prospect of him permitting any segment of Ukraine to become a member of NATO remains inconceivable.
Current evidence strongly indicates that any potential involvement of NATO is unlikely to materialize.
On Thursday, Moscow launched its second large-scale assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in under two weeks.
In a statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin characterized the action as a reaction to what he described as “continued attacks” involving US-supplied atomic missiles targeting Russian territory.
After facing two-and-a-half harsh winters since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukrainians are preparing for another challenging season.
