A Historic Pivot: Zelensky Considers Dropping NATO Bid in Pursuit of Peace

A major diplomatic shift is unfolding in Berlin as President Volodymyr Zelensky signals a willingness to set aside Ukraine's long-held ambition for NATO membership. During intense, five-hour negotiations with US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner , Zelensky framed the move as a strategic compromise to secure a ceasefire. However, this concession comes with a firm condition: Ukraine demands legally binding security guarantees from the West that would mirror the protection of NATO's Article 5.

This development aligns with the Kremlin's long-standing "red lines." Earlier in 2025, Moscow reiterated its demand for formal, written guarantees that NATO will cease all eastward expansion. By potentially renouncing its bid, Kyiv addresses Russia's primary stated casus belli, but significant hurdles remain—most notably the status of the Donbas and the exact nature of the Western military commitment that would replace the NATO umbrella.