Ukraine drops NATO bid: Will Kyiv get security guarantees from the West?

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is prepared to abandon Ukraine's pursuit of NATO membership in exchange for tighter Western security guarantees. His comments came as he has been holding talks with United States and European envoys aimed at ending Ukraine's war with Russia. US President Donald Trump, who has opposed NATO membership for Ukraine, has been pressuring Kyiv to sign a deal with Russia on terms that experts say favour Moscow."

"Some partners from the US and Europe did not support this direction, Zelenskyy said. Bilateral security guarantees between Ukraine and the US, Article 5-like guarantees for us from the US, and security guarantees from European colleagues, as well as other countries Canada, Japan are an opportunity to prevent another Russian invasion, he said. These security guarantees are an opportunity to prevent another wave of Russian aggression, he said."

"Zelenskyy described the latest proposal as a concession by Kyiv, after years of pressing for NATO membership as the strongest deterrent against future Russian attacks. So will Kyiv be able to get security guarantees from its Western allies? And what would be the parameter of the security deal? Zelenskyy said that Ukraine, the European Union and the US were reviewing a 28-point plan that could culminate in a ceasefire, though he reiterated that Kyiv was not holding direct talks with Russia."

Ukraine is prepared to abandon pursuit of NATO membership in exchange for tighter Western security guarantees. US President Donald Trump opposes NATO membership for Ukraine and pressures Kyiv to sign a deal with Russia that experts say would favour Moscow. Kyiv seeks bilateral and Article 5-like guarantees from the US, as well as security guarantees from European partners and other countries including Canada and Japan. Russia views Ukraine's NATO aspirations as a threat. Ukraine, the EU and the US are reviewing a 28-point plan that could lead to a ceasefire, while Kyiv is not engaging in direct talks with Russia.

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