Ukraine's NATO Membership Discussions Reassessed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently stated that Kyiv has been advised by Washington to consider ceding territory to Moscow as part of discussions about NATO membership. He mentioned that Ukraine's relationship with the Western military alliance is now "back on the agenda." Zelensky's comments come amid intensified Russian attacks in Ukraine, with President Vladimir Putin showing little sign of backing down.

According to Zelensky, the Kremlin is "betting everything" on its military campaign this winter. In a recent meeting in Abu Dhabi, US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with both Zelensky and Putin, but no significant progress was made. However, they did agree that European nations would join future talks aimed at ending the conflict. Five countries - France, Germany, Italy, the UK, and Poland - will send representatives to these discussions.

During the talks, the Americans raised the issue of whether Ukraine would withdraw from the Donbas if it joined NATO. Zelensky expressed that, given the support Ukraine has received and its military advancements, the US cannot afford to disregard the country's needs. He believes NATO could benefit from Ukraine's nearly five years of combat experience. Kyiv is also looking for "specific" post-war support from Western nations.

Zelensky stated that he would consult Ukrainians before agreeing to any terms. He firmly stated that Ukraine will not recognise any land taken by Russian forces as part of Russia. Moscow, which considers Ukraine's NATO membership a "red line," had previously invaded Ukraine, alleging that the West aimed to pull Ukraine into the alliance.

In the recent negotiations, Putin dismissed the possibility of foreign peacekeeping troops in Ukraine and rejected broader ceasefire proposals. Zelensky claimed that a recent Russian offer for a "humanitarian" mission to Kostyantynivka, a town Moscow claimed to have seized, was merely a tactic to force Ukraine to withdraw from the area and facilitate further territorial changes in the Donetsk region.

Zelensky mentioned that Russia also rejected a proposal for an energy ceasefire during the Abu Dhabi talks. The Kremlin is trying to shift discussions from ending the war to broader security issues in Europe. Russian negotiators have proposed a "new, modern Yalta" to reshape the continent's security landscape, a reference to the post-World War II conference that divided Europe.

European leaders have responded cautiously to this proposal, stating that the existing security architecture is sufficient. Zelensky and his allies insist that achieving a ceasefire should be the priority in any talks, arguing that discussions around security frameworks should not precede the need to end the war. Zelensky warned that Moscow's plans for redistributing power in Europe pose serious dangers and could lead to further conflicts.

Key points

• Ukraine's relationship with NATO is back on the agenda, says President Volodymyr Zelensky.