Zelensky: Ukraine renounces NATO ambition, this is our compromise

(Patria) - Ukraine is renouncing its ambition to join NATO in exchange for Western security guarantees as a compromise to end the war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said ahead of talks with American representatives in Berlin.

This move marks a major shift for Ukraine, which has fought to join NATO, considering it protection from Russian attacks. This aspiration has also been included in the Ukrainian constitution. This also fulfills one of Russia's war aims, and Kyiv has so far stood firm against ceding territory to Moscow.

"From the very beginning, Ukraine's desire was to join NATO, these are real security guarantees. Some partners from the US and Europe did not support this direction," he said, answering journalists' questions in a WhatsApp group.

"Therefore, today, bilateral security guarantees between Ukraine and the US, guarantees similar to Article 5 for us from the US, and security guarantees from European colleagues, as well as other countries like Canada and Japan, are an opportunity to prevent another Russian invasion," Zelensky said.

"And this is already a compromise on our part," said the Ukrainian president, adding that security guarantees should be legally binding.

Zelensky had previously called for a "dignified" peace and guarantees that Russia would not attack Ukraine again as he prepared for a meeting with US representatives and European allies in Berlin to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

Under pressure from US President Donald Trump to sign a peace agreement that initially supported Moscow's demands, Zelensky accused Russia of prolonging the war with deadly bombings of cities and Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are traveling to Germany for talks with Ukrainians and Europeans.

The decision to send Witkoff, who led negotiations with Ukraine and Russia on the US peace proposal, is seen as a signal that Washington has seen an opportunity for progress nearly four years after the start of the Russian invasion.

Zelensky said that Ukraine, Europeans, and the US are considering a 20-point plan and that a ceasefire will be agreed upon at the end of it. He added that Kyiv has no direct talks with Russia.

Zelensky said that a ceasefire along the current front lines would be a fair option. Russia had asked Kyiv to withdraw its forces from parts of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk that Ukraine still holds.

"Ukraine needs peace on dignified terms and we are ready to work as constructively as possible. The coming days will be filled with diplomacy. It is extremely important that it yields results," Zelensky wrote earlier on X.

Russian President Vladimir Putin received Witkoff and Kushner at a meeting earlier this month, and the Kremlin said the meeting was "constructive," although no major progress was made.