Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a ceasefire could be reached if Ukrainian territory under his control were placed “under the NATO umbrella,” enabling him to later negotiate the return of other areas through diplomatic means.
In an interview with Sky News, Zelenskyy emphasized that NATO membership, or at least security guarantees from member states, could create the conditions necessary to end the “hot stage” of the conflict. He clarified that this proposal does not mean Ukraine would cede its occupied territories, such as Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine, which remain under Russian control. Instead, these regions would be addressed diplomatically after a ceasefire was established.
“If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control,” Zelenskyy stated. “Then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically.”
Ukraine’s NATO ambitions have long faced hurdles, as membership requires clear and recognized borders to determine the scope of mutual defense obligations. Zelenskyy addressed this, rejecting any notion of splitting Ukraine’s territories or recognizing Russian claims over occupied regions. “You can’t give an invitation to just one part of a country,” he said, warning that doing so would legitimize Russian territorial claims.
At NATO’s summit in July, member nations reiterated their commitment to Ukraine’s “irreversible” path to membership, though no concrete timeline was provided. The alliance remains wary of escalating the conflict, which could invoke Article 5 and lead to direct NATO-Russia confrontation.
Zelenskyy’s remarks come as Western leaders explore diplomatic solutions to end the war. The proposal for NATO protection aligns with a broader “victory plan” Zelenskyy shared with allies earlier this year, aimed at securing Ukraine’s sovereignty and deterring future Russian aggression.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Ukraine’s NATO membership is a red line for Moscow, viewing it as a direct threat to Russian security. Russia continues to demand recognition of its annexation of Ukrainian territories as a prerequisite for peace talks.
