Zelensky suggests war could end if unoccupied Ukraine comes under Nato
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested that the war in Ukraine could be brought to an end if the parts of the country under Ukrainian control are included under the “Nato umbrella.” In an in-depth interview with Sky News, Zelensky was asked about the possibility of accepting Nato membership, but only for the areas that Kyiv currently holds, which are largely in the west and central parts of Ukraine.
While Zelensky expressed openness to such a proposition, he made it clear that any Nato membership offer would need to include the whole of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. He emphasized that Ukraine could then use diplomacy to negotiate the return of the regions under Russian occupation. However, he acknowledged that this suggestion was highly theoretical, as no official offer has been made by Nato. Zelensky pointed out that despite frequent discussions about ceasefires or compromises, no country or international body has officially proposed such a move yet.
Zelensky explained that Nato would need to extend membership to the entire country, including the areas currently controlled by Russia. He argued, “You can’t offer an invitation to just one part of a country, because that would imply that Ukraine is only that part, and the rest would be recognized as Russia.” For Zelensky, Nato membership offers the only viable security guarantee against further Russian aggression.
This proposal builds on Zelensky’s belief that the war could end within the next year, provided Ukraine’s Western allies maintain their support and resolve. He has stated that the country is seeking a diplomatic resolution, especially with plans to pursue a peaceful settlement in 2025. Zelensky remains focused on preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but is also mindful of the need to explore diplomatic avenues as the conflict continues to evolve.
In recent months, Western discussions about a potential “West German model” for Ukraine—similar to the approach taken in Cold War Europe, where West Germany was part of Nato while East Germany was aligned with the Soviet bloc—have emerged. This concept has been informally debated within Western circles for over a year, although no formal proposals have been made. The idea would theoretically allow Ukraine to join Nato, with the possibility of a division similar to Germany’s during the Cold War. However, such a solution remains highly speculative and unlikely given the current geopolitical climate.
On the U.S. front, President-elect Donald Trump had promised during his campaign that he could end the war in 24 hours. However, his advisors, including Vice President-elect JD Vance, have suggested that achieving peace might require Ukraine to make compromises, such as ceding territory in the Donbas or Crimea, areas that have been at the heart of the conflict. This view is seen by some as a potential route to end the war but is opposed by Ukrainian leadership, which insists on full sovereignty over its territory.
Zelensky has repeatedly stated that Ukraine’s aim is to achieve peace through diplomatic means while ensuring its territorial integrity. However, any compromise that involves territorial concessions is unlikely to be acceptable to the Ukrainian people or their government, especially given Russia’s longstanding stance of territorial expansion. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and in 2022 launched a full-scale invasion, continuing to occupy parts of eastern Ukraine, including the Donbas region.
Despite the ongoing discussions about diplomacy and potential ceasefires, Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no indication that he is willing to abandon his goal of fully subjugating Ukraine. His rhetoric and actions point to an ongoing intention to retain control over the occupied regions, and the idea that Russia would allow any part of Ukraine to join Nato is currently inconceivable.
Furthermore, any involvement of Nato in Ukraine’s defense remains a non-starter for Moscow. Nato’s eastern expansion has long been a point of contention between Russia and the West, and Putin’s actions in Ukraine appear designed to push back against what he sees as Western encroachment on Russia’s sphere of influence.
The situation has escalated in recent weeks, with Russia intensifying its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. On Thursday, Moscow carried out its second mass strike on Ukraine’s energy grid in under two weeks, reportedly in retaliation for Ukraine’s use of US-supplied Atacms missiles on Russian soil. This marks a continuation of Russia’s strategy to cripple Ukraine’s infrastructure while the war drags on into its third year. As Ukrainians prepare for yet another harsh winter, they remain resolute in their fight for sovereignty, though the prospect of a negotiated peace remains uncertain.
In conclusion, while Zelensky’s suggestion of Nato membership for a non-occupied Ukraine offers a potential path to end the war, the geopolitical complexities and Russia’s refusal to cede control of occupied territories make such a scenario unlikely in the near future. As the conflict continues, both Ukraine and its allies face difficult choices about how to navigate the path to peace without compromising on territorial integrity or national sovereignty.
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