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Zelensky suggests war could end if unoccupied Ukraine comes under Nato | Zelensky suggests war could end if unoccupied Ukraine comes under Nato |
(about 1 hour later) | |
President Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested that the parts of Ukraine under his control should be taken "under the Nato umbrella" to try and stop the "hot phase" of the war. | President Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested that the parts of Ukraine under his control should be taken "under the Nato umbrella" to try and stop the "hot phase" of the war. |
In a long, wide-ranging interview with Sky News, the Ukrainian president was asked whether he would accept Nato membership, but only on the territory that Kyiv currently holds. | In a long, wide-ranging interview with Sky News, the Ukrainian president was asked whether he would accept Nato membership, but only on the territory that Kyiv currently holds. |
Zelensky said he would, but only if Nato membership was offered to the whole of Ukraine, within its internationally recognised borders, first. | Zelensky said he would, but only if Nato membership was offered to the whole of Ukraine, within its internationally recognised borders, first. |
Ukraine could then attempt to negotiate the return of territory currently under Russian control "in a diplomatic way", he said. | Ukraine could then attempt to negotiate the return of territory currently under Russian control "in a diplomatic way", he said. |
But the suggestion is highly theoretical. As Zelensky pointed out, no-one has yet made such an offer. | But the suggestion is highly theoretical. As Zelensky pointed out, no-one has yet made such an offer. |
Whether Nato would ever consider such a move is highly doubtful. | Whether Nato would ever consider such a move is highly doubtful. |
“Ukraine has never considered such a proposal, because no-one has officially offered it to us,” Zelensky said. | “Ukraine has never considered such a proposal, because no-one has officially offered it to us,” Zelensky said. |
Nato would need to offer membership to the whole country, including those parts currently under Russian control, he said. | Nato would need to offer membership to the whole country, including those parts currently under Russian control, he said. |
"You can't give [an] invitation to just one part of a country," the president said, according to a translation provided by Sky News. "Why? Because thus, you would recognise that Ukraine is only that territory of Ukraine, and the other one is Russia." | "You can't give [an] invitation to just one part of a country," the president said, according to a translation provided by Sky News. "Why? Because thus, you would recognise that Ukraine is only that territory of Ukraine, and the other one is Russia." |
Lots of people were proposing ceasefires, he said, but without a mechanism to prevent Russia from attacking again, ceasefires were simply too dangerous. | Lots of people were proposing ceasefires, he said, but without a mechanism to prevent Russia from attacking again, ceasefires were simply too dangerous. |
Only NATO membership, he said, could offer that kind of guarantee. | Only NATO membership, he said, could offer that kind of guarantee. |
The Ukrainian president has already said that he thinks the war could end in the coming year if Ukraine’s allies show sufficient resolve. | The Ukrainian president has already said that he thinks the war could end in the coming year if Ukraine’s allies show sufficient resolve. |
Reports suggest that discussion of the so-called West German model - Nato membership offered to a divided country - has been going on in Western circles for more than a year. | Reports suggest that discussion of the so-called West German model - Nato membership offered to a divided country - has been going on in Western circles for more than a year. |
But no formal proposals have yet been made. | But no formal proposals have yet been made. |
While on the campaign trail, US President-elect Trump vowed to end the war within “24 hours”. | |
Those around him, like Vice President-elect JD Vance, have signalled that will mean compromises for Ukraine, likely in the form of giving up territory in the Donbas and Crimea. | |
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said himself Kyiv would like to end the war through “diplomatic means” in 2025. | |
Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014. Eight years later, it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has occupied territory in the country's east. | |
But It is also worth noting that so far Russia's President Vladimir Putin has given absolutely no indication that he’s abandoned his desire to subjugate Ukraine entirely. | |
The idea that he would be willing to allow any part of Ukraine to join Nato is, for now, unthinkable. | The idea that he would be willing to allow any part of Ukraine to join Nato is, for now, unthinkable. |
All the indications so far suggest that any involvement of Nato is a complete non-starter. | All the indications so far suggest that any involvement of Nato is a complete non-starter. |
On Thursday, Moscow mounted its second mass attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in less than two weeks. | |
Russian President Vladimir Putin called it a response to "continued attacks" using US-supplied Atacms missiles on Russian soil. | |
Having already endured two-and-a-half bitter winters since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukrainians are bracing themselves for another. | |
Additional reporting by Sofia Ferreira Santos. |