Ukraine willing to drop ambitions to join Nato, Zelenskyy says

"The move marks a major shift for Ukraine, which has fought to join Nato as a safeguard against Russian attacks and has such an aspiration included in its constitution. It also meets one of Russia's war aims, although Kyiv has so far held firm against ceding territory to Moscow. Zelenskyy met the US envoys at talks hosted by Germany's chancellor Friedrich Merz, who a source said had made brief remarks before leaving the two sides to negotiate."

"Zelenskyy described the concession on Nato as a compromise. 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 adding that legally binding security guarantees from the US, Europe and other countries such as Canada and Japan could prevent another Russian invasion."

"Vladimir Putin has repeatedly demanded that Ukraine officially renounce its Nato ambitions and withdraw troops from approximately 10% of Donbas that Kyiv still controls. Moscow has also said that Ukraine must be a neutral country, and that no Nato troops can be stationed there. Russian sources said earlier this year that Putin wants a written pledge by major western powers not to enlarge the US-led Nato alliance eastwards shorthand for formally ruling out membership to Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and other former Soviet republics."

Ukraine signalled readiness to drop aspirations of joining Nato in return for legally binding security guarantees from the US, Europe and partners such as Canada and Japan. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy framed the concession as a compromise while meeting US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Berlin at talks hosted by Germany's chancellor Friedrich Merz. The concession aligns with a core Russian demand but Kyiv has so far resisted ceding territory. Moscow insists on Ukrainian neutrality, no Nato troops, and a written pledge by western powers not to expand Nato eastwards, excluding countries like Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

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