President Volodymyr Zelensky said parts of Ukraine under his control could be “put under the NATO umbrella” to try to prevent the “intense phase” of the war.
In an interview with Sky News, the Ukrainian president said he was willing to consider allowing only the unoccupied part of Ukraine to join NATO, but only if NATO membership was first offered to all of Ukraine within internationally recognized borders.
He said Ukraine could then try to negotiate “diplomatically” the return of territory currently controlled by Russia.
But this suggestion is highly theoretical. As Zelensky noted, no such proposal has yet been made.
It is highly doubtful that NATO would consider such a measure.
“Ukraine has never considered such a proposal because no one formally proposed it to us,” Zelensky said.
He said NATO needed to offer membership to entire countries, including areas currently under Russian control.
“You can’t give [an] According to a translation provided by Sky News, the president said only one region from a country was invited. Because then you will realize that Ukraine is only the territory of Ukraine, and the other is Russia.
Many people have proposed a ceasefire, but without mechanisms to prevent another Russian attack, it would be too dangerous, he said.
Only NATO members can provide such guarantees, he said.
Ukraine’s president has said he believes the war could end next year if Ukraine’s allies show enough resolve.
There are reports that discussions in Western circles on the so-called West German model (providing NATO membership to breakaway countries) have been going on for more than a year.
But no formal recommendations have been made.
It’s also worth noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far given absolutely no indication that he has completely given up on his desire to conquer Ukraine.
The idea that he would allow any region of Ukraine to join NATO is currently unthinkable.
All indications so far are that any NATO involvement is completely unlikely.
