Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has made a significant and possibly historic concession by offering to abandon the country’s long-standing push to join NATO. The proposal emerged during high-level peace talks in Berlin on Sunday aimed at ending the war with Russia that began in 2022.
What Is Ukraine Offering Now?
Ahead of the negotiations, President Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine is prepared to formally abandon its aspiration to join the NATO military alliance. This ambition has been a core part of Ukraine’s national security policy and is even written into its constitution. In exchange, Kyiv is demanding legally binding security guarantees from the United States and key European allies. Zelenskiy described this move as “already a compromise on our part,” aiming to secure protection against future Russian aggression through direct pacts with powerful nations instead of through NATO membership.
Who Is at the Negotiating Table?
The talks in Berlin, hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, brought together Ukrainian officials and envoys representing U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump’s negotiating team includes his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff, who has led previous peace efforts. The involvement of Trump’s representatives signals a serious push from Washington to find a diplomatic solution. The discussions lasted over five hours on Sunday and are scheduled to continue on Monday.
What Has Been the Progress?
While full details remain confidential, the atmosphere after the first day was cautiously positive. Steve Witkoff posted on social media that “a lot of progress was made” during in-depth discussions on a peace plan and economic issues. A Ukrainian presidential adviser confirmed the talks would resume, with officials reviewing draft documents. This marks one of the most substantive diplomatic engagements since the full-scale invasion began.
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Why Is This a Critical Moment?
Ukraine’s offer to renounce NATO meets a primary demand long held by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow has insisted that Ukraine become a neutral country and permanently rule out joining the alliance. European leaders have described this phase as a “critical moment” for Ukraine’s future. Despite the move, major challenges remain, especially over occupied Ukrainian territories and the details of any security guarantees. German officials warned that guarantees without firm U.S. backing “wouldn’t be worth much,” pointing to past promises to Ukraine that were not kept.
What Are the Remaining Sticking Points?
Beyond neutrality, Russia has demanded that Ukraine withdraw troops from the roughly 10% of the Donbas region it still controls. Western-backed proposals have also suggested limits on Ukraine’s armed forces. European allies are simultaneously working to support Kyiv by using frozen Russian assets to fund its defense and recovery. President Zelenskiy, under pressure to secure a deal, has indicated a ceasefire along current front lines could be a viable option, but insists any agreement must prevent another invasion.
Immediate FAQs
Q: What did Ukraine offer in the peace talks?
A: Ukraine offered to formally drop its goal of joining NATO in exchange for direct, legally binding security guarantees from the U.S. and European nations.
Q: Who is negotiating for the United States?
A: The U.S. side is represented by envoys of President Donald Trump, specifically Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
Q: Has Russia agreed to anything?
A: The reports so far only detail Ukraine’s concession and progress in talks. Russia’s formal response to this specific offer is not yet clear.
Q: Is the war about to end?
A: Though a major concession is in place, disputes over territory and security guarantees are still unresolved. Discussions are ongoing, but there is no certainty of a final agreement yet.
