❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine is dropping its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership bid as part of ongoing peace negotiations with Russia.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump evoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Sunday during peace talks in Brussels, Belgium.
💬KEY QUOTE: “From the very beginning, Ukraine’s conditions—or perhaps more accurately, our ambition—was NATO membership. And that would have provided real security guarantees. Some partners from the United States and Europe did not support this direction,” said Zelensky.
🎯IMPACT: Dropping the NATO bid aligns with a key Russian demand and could move peace negotiations forward.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine will no longer pursue membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance, describing the move as part of a compromise tied to ongoing peace negotiations with Russia. The talks have involved several international intermediaries, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Trump administration representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Speaking to journalists via WhatsApp, Zelensky said Ukraine’s long-standing goal of joining NATO had not received full backing from its partners. “From the very beginning, Ukraine’s conditions – or perhaps more accurately, our ambition – was NATO membership. And that would have provided real security guarantees. Some partners from the United States and Europe did not support this direction,” he said.
Zelensky explained that Kiev is now seeking bilateral security guarantees from Western allies such as the United States, some European countries, Canada, and Japan as an alternative. He said these guarantees are intended to deter future Russian aggression, but described the shift away from NATO as a significant concession. “This already is a compromise on our part,” he added.
Ukraine’s NATO aspirations have been central to its foreign policy, particularly since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Moscow has consistently demanded that Ukraine abandon its bid to join the alliance, with Russian President Vladimir Putin framing NATO expansion as a direct threat to Russia’s security. Renouncing designs on NATO membership has therefore been a recurring Russian condition in peace discussions.
The announcement comes despite previous statements from NATO leadership that Ukraine’s path toward membership was “irreversible.” While NATO officials have repeatedly emphasized political support for Ukraine, alliance members have also been divided on the timing and feasibility of accession, especially during an active conflict. Public opinion and political resistance in parts of Europe have further complicated Ukraine’s broader integration with Western institutions, including the European Union (EU).
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, speaking after meetings in Brussels, Belgium, said that “a lot of progress was made” in the negotiations, though he offered no details. Talks are scheduled to continue on Monday, when both sides are expected to present updated proposals.
The development comes as the United States continues to support Ukraine militarily through indirect means, including arms sales to NATO allies who then transfer weapons to Kiev. That approach has allowed Washington to maintain support for Ukraine while navigating political and strategic sensitivities surrounding NATO involvement.
Image via the Office of the President of Ukraine.
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