Zelensky Drops NATO Bid Ahead Of Berlin Peace Talks With US And Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has abandoned Ukraine’s long-standing bid to join NATO as he heads into critical peace negotiations with the United States and European allies in Berlin, the British Independent reported Sunday.

The decision marks a major reversal, with Zelensky describing the move as a “compromise” aimed at bringing an end to the war with Russia. Moscow has, since the beginning of the war, framed its invasion as defensive due to Ukraine’s NATO goals.

Instead of Nato membership, Zelensky said Ukraine will now seek legally binding Western security guarantees to protect the country from future aggression.

The shift comes as Zelensky prepares for another round of negotiations in Berlin with US envoys and European leaders, as efforts intensify to reach a peace agreement.

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were seen entering a hotel in central Berlin on Sunday, ahead of the talks.

They are expected to meet Zelensky alongside European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Starmer is attending the talks as Britain continues discussions on a proposed plan to use frozen Russian sovereign assets to help finance support for Kyiv.

On Saturday, Starmer spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about the proposal and ongoing work on US-led peace initiatives.

Looking ahead to Monday’s talks, Zelensky said in a late Saturday address to the nation: “I will be meeting with envoys of President Trump, and there will also be meetings with our European partners, with many leaders, concerning the foundation of peace – a political agreement to end the war.”

The move also aligns with one of Moscow’s key war demands, though Kyiv has continued to resist pressure to surrender territory to Russia.

“From the very beginning, Ukraine’s desire was to join Nato, these are real security guarantees. Some partners from the US and Europe did not support this direction,” Zelensky said in response to reporters’ questions during a WhatsApp chat.

“Thus, today, bilateral security guarantees between Ukraine and the US, Article 5-like guarantees for us from the US, and security guarantees from European colleagues, as well as other countries, Canada, Japan, are an opportunity to prevent another Russian invasion,” he added.

Zelensky also said that a ceasefire along the current front lines could be a fair solution.

Russia has demanded that Ukraine withdraw its forces from parts of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions that Kyiv still controls. Zelensky rejected that proposal in comments to reporters, saying such an outcome would be unfair and stressing that territorial issues remain unresolved and extremely sensitive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly insisted that Ukraine formally renounce its Nato ambitions, pull troops from roughly 10 percent of the Donbas still under Ukrainian control, and accept permanent neutrality with no Nato forces stationed on its soil.

Britain, France and Germany have been working to refine US peace proposals, which in a draft revealed last month reportedly called on Ukraine to concede additional territory, abandon Nato ambitions and accept limits on its military.

European leaders have described the moment as critical for Ukraine’s future, while also seeking ways to stabilize Kyiv’s finances by using frozen Russian central bank assets to fund both military and civilian needs.

Britain has said it is prepared to move in coordination with the European Union to unlock immobilized Russian assets, most of which are held in Belgium.

Belgium has so far resisted the move, urging other EU states to share the financial risk amid concerns it could be left liable if Russia successfully challenges the plan.