Volodymyr Zelensky Admits Ukraine May Never Join NATO, Seeks Security Guarantee Saying the Country 'Learns Who Their True Friends Are'

In a significant concession that might open the door to peace, Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that Ukraine will never join NATO.

President Zelensky acknowledged that his country's possible membership in the defense alliance was now in jeopardy, fulfilling a key demand of warmongering Vladimir Putin. Next week, President Joe Biden will go to Europe for face-to-face meetings with EU leaders as well as an exceptional Nato summit in Brussels.

Zelensky on Ceasefire Efforts With Vladimir Putin

However, Volodymyr Zelensky, who supported membership before Russia destroyed his country, is now claimed to have "cooled" on the concept. He claimed talks on a possible ceasefire were proceeding "very well," despite reports that Russia had modified its stance and stopped making demands for Ukraine's capitulation.

On the 20th day of the battle, however, courageous Ukrainians refused to surrender, with one legislator pledging to "grind" the Russians until Putin acknowledges defeat. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair questioned NATO's only peace-keeping mission Wednesday night, calling it a "weird" ploy to rule out military action against Russia, The Sun reported.

While he made no formal guarantees, his comments may be perceived as further opening the door to a peace accord between Ukraine and Russia after negotiators hailed 'substantial' progress over the weekend without offering any indication of what such a deal would look like.

Putin had demanded guarantees that Ukraine would never be joined to NATO, as well as the expulsion of all NATO soldiers and weaponry from ex-Soviet nations, before the attack. He started his special military operation' to "demilitarize and de-Nazify" Ukraine after being rejected by Kyiv, Washington, and NATO.

Since then, Russian negotiators have modified their stance, stating they want Ukraine to proclaim neutrality, disarm, recognize Crimea as part of Russia, and recognize the Donbas as a separate entity. Ukraine has demanded a cease-fire and the departure of all Russian soldiers immediately. This week's talks are still underway, and Moscow has made no mention of broader demands for NATO in recent days.

Zelensky encouraged Western partners to enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine once more, lamenting NATO's failure to do so thus far, adding that the catastrophic situation in his nation had prompted him to do so. He said, "[It] allowed us to see who our true friends are these past 20 days."

Ukraine May Need Separate Security Guarantees

Ihor Zhovkva, another President Zelenskyy aide, had sounded a more upbeat note earlier in the day, claiming that the talks had become "more fruitful" and that Russia had modified its stance by no longer making demands for Ukraine's capitulation.

Any agreement between Moscow and Kyiv would confront a slew of challenges, including whether forces would respect a truce and if Russia could be trusted to fulfill its word. However, both sides appear to be softening to the notion of a truce, which would allow Ukraine to deliver desperately needed humanitarian goods to cities that have been under siege for weeks, according to Daily Mail.

Without NATO membership, Ukraine requires "new structures of contact with the West and independent security assurances," according to Zelensky.

Although Zelensky's remarks were not a formal concession in discussions with Russia, stating that Ukraine will not pursue NATO membership may not be enough to appease Putin. The Kremlin wants specific modifications to Ukraine's constitution to prevent the country from joining NATO or the EU.

Russia's overarching objective is to demilitarize Ukraine, which Zelensky cannot accept if he wants to secure his country's survival, but Ukraine's acceptance of not joining NATO might open the door for talks.

Conceding on the matter, however, cannot imply that Ukraine foregoes the international assistance it presently gets. Ukraine has been receiving military weaponry from the US and other countries to assist it in mounting its defense against Russian strikes. It's uncertain if Russia would accept a deal, as per Newsweek via MSN.

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Tags

Ukraine, NATO, Russia, Vladimir putin