Ukraine’s Zelensky ‘prepared to end Ukraine War in exchange for Nato status’ – even if Russia ‘doesn’t immediately give back land,'

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested a ceasefire could be achievable if the territory Ukraine currently controls were brought "under the NATO umbrella," allowing for the potential negotiation of the return of occupied areas "through diplomatic means" at a later stage.

In an interview with Sky News chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay, the Ukrainian president responded to reports that one of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s proposals to end the war might involve Kyiv ceding Russian-occupied territories in exchange for NATO membership for the rest of Ukraine.

Zelenskyy stated that NATO membership would need to cover unoccupied Ukrainian territory as a means of ending the "hot phase of the war," provided the alliance recognizes Ukraine’s internationally accepted borders.

He appeared to acknowledge that, for now, this arrangement might exclude regions currently under Russian occupation.

Zelenskyy’s Position on NATO and Ceasefire

"If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to place the territory of Ukraine we control under NATO's umbrella," Zelenskyy explained. "This needs to happen quickly. Then, for the [occupied] territories, Ukraine can seek their return through diplomacy."

He emphasized the importance of a ceasefire to "guarantee that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will not return" to seize more Ukrainian land. Zelenskyy urged NATO to "immediately" extend its protection to areas under Kyiv’s control, arguing that this step was critical to preventing further aggression.

Building Ties with Trump Administration

In his first interview with British media since Trump’s election victory, Zelenskyy expressed his readiness to collaborate with the incoming U.S. administration, calling for direct engagement with the president-elect.

"We have to work with the new president to ensure we have our biggest supporter," Zelenskyy said. "I want to work with him directly because there are different voices from people around him. We need to prevent anyone from disrupting our communication."

He added, "This requires finding a new model of cooperation. I want to share ideas with him and also hear his perspective."

Broader Context

The interview highlights Ukraine’s strategic push for NATO support amid escalating challenges posed by Russia’s ongoing occupation of its territory. It also underscores Zelenskyy’s focus on securing strong international backing as he navigates the diplomatic landscape under a shifting U.S. administration.