Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has hinted that a ceasefire agreement could be reached if the Ukrainian territory he controls is taken “under NATO protection”.
This would allow him to negotiate the return of the rest of the territory “diplomatically” later.
In an interview with Sky News’ chief correspondent Stuart Ramsey, Zelensky was asked to respond to media reports that one of Donald Trump’s plans to end the war could be to cede territory to Russia.
Zelensky said that NATO membership would have to be offered to the unoccupied parts of the country in order to end the “hot phase of the war”, as long as the invitation to NATO itself recognises Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders.
He seemed to accept that the occupied eastern parts of the country would be outside such an agreement for the time being.
“If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to take the territory of Ukraine that we control under NATO protection. We need to do it quickly. And then we will return the occupied territories of Ukraine diplomatically,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky said the ceasefire was needed to “guarantee that Putin will not return” to seize more Ukrainian territory.
He said NATO should immediately cover the part of Ukraine that remains under Kiev’s control, which, he said, Ukraine badly needs.
