Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to abandon Ukraine’s longstanding goal of joining Nato in exchange for security arrangements with Washington and European allies.
The Ukrainian leader announced this significant shift on Sunday during ongoing peace negotiations in Berlin, describing the move as a compromise aimed at breaking the diplomatic deadlock.
Under the revised approach, Kyiv would seek protections comparable to Nato’s Article 5 collective defence commitment from the US, along with similar assurances from European nations, Canada and Japan.
“We are talking about bilateral security guarantees between Ukraine and the US namely, Article 5-like guarantees…as well as security guarantees for us from our European partners and from other countries such as Canada, Japan,” Mr Zelensky told reporters, according to the Financial Times.
Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to abandon Ukraine’s longstanding goal of joining Nato
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“And this is already a compromise on our part,” he added.
Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner touched down in the German capital on Sunday for discussions with Mr Zelensky and Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding the latest peace proposals.
The US president has set a Christmas deadline for Ukraine to accept his peace terms, placing significant pressure on Kyiv to reach an agreement.
However, Ukrainian officials have expressed alarm that the deal would require them to cede territory while receiving only vague security commitments in return.
Steve Witkoff (centre) and Jared Kushner (left) touched down in the German capital on Sunday
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Washington has maintained its position that any discussion of security guarantees must wait until a formal peace accord is finalised.
Ukraine remains constitutionally committed to Nato membership following a 2019 amendment, with figures such as Boris Johnson arguing this represents the sole guarantee of the nation’s survival.
Moscow has already signalled its opposition to Ukraine’s revised peace proposals. Yuri Ushakov, Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser, warned on state television that Russia would raise “sharp objections” if Washington adopted Kyiv’s amendments.
“It’s not like there’s going to be anything good there,” he said.
Both sides have expressed doubts about Mr Trump’s suggestion to withdraw all forces from eastern Donbas to establish a “free economic zone” in Ukrainian-held areas.
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Yuri Ushakov has already signalled Moscow’s opposition to Ukraine’s revised peace proposals
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Mr Zelensky criticised the proposal as inequitable, questioning why Ukrainian forces should pull back without Russian troops doing the same from occupied territory.
The Ukrainian president argued that freezing the existing front lines represented the “only fair and possible option”, with broader disputes to be resolved diplomatically.
Mr Ushakov insisted Russia would accept nothing less than complete control of the Donbas region.
Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron will join a summit hosted by Mr Merz on Monday, where European heads of state will gather for discussions and dinner with the Ukrainian president.
Earlier in the day, Mr Merz will welcome Mr Zelensky to a German-Ukrainian business conference in the capital.
Kyiv has yet to receive any response from Washington to its revised peace proposals, which were drawn up following consultations with European leaders.
The Ukrainian plan includes provisions for accelerated EU membership by 2027.
“The plan will certainly not be one that everyone likes. There are many compromises in one or another version of the plan,” Mr Zelensky acknowledged.
Mr Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with European allies, branding them “weak” this week for their failure to resolve the conflict.
