Ukraine open to ceasefire if NATO offer is on the table
Kyiv is ready for a ceasefire, even without Russia relinquishing occupied Ukrainian territories, President Volodymyr Zelensky conveyed in an interview with Sky News. However, there is one condition: Ukraine must join NATO.
In the interview, Zelensky was asked about rumors that one of Donald Trump's plans to end the war in Ukraine involves Ukraine giving up territories conquered by Russia in exchange for NATO membership.
Zelensky stated that an invitation to join NATO would help end the "hot phase of the war." He emphasized that he would expect the Alliance to recognize Ukraine's borders as they were in 1991.
"If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control," he said. "We need to do it fast. And then on the [occupied] territory of Ukraine, Ukraine can get them back in a diplomatic way," he added.
He stressed that the ceasefire must ensure that "Putin will not come back" to attempt to seize the rest of Ukraine's territory.
Zelensky was also asked about his relations with Trump. "I want to work with him directly because there are different voices from people around him. And that's why we need not to [allow] anybody around to destroy our communication," he said.
The President of Ukraine emphasized his desire to present "his ideas" to Trump and also wants to learn about the thoughts of the U.S. president-elect.
More information will be provided shortly.
