President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that parts of Ukraine he controls should be placed under NATO protection to prevent a ‘hot phase’ of war.
In a lengthy and wide-ranging interview with Sky News, Ukraine’s president was asked whether he would accept membership in NATO, but only on territories currently held by Kiev.
Zelensky said he would. But this is only possible if NATO membership is first offered to all of Ukraine within internationally recognized borders.
He said Ukraine could try to negotiate “by diplomatic means” the return of territory currently controlled by Russia.
But the proposal is very theoretical. As Zelensky points out, no one has yet made such a proposal.
It is highly doubtful that NATO would consider such a move.
“We have never considered such a proposal in Ukraine, because no one has officially proposed it,” Zelensky said.
He said NATO should offer membership to the entire country, including areas currently controlled by Russia.
“You can’t give [an] “We only invite one part of the country,” the president said, according to a translation provided by Sky News. Because if you do this, you will recognize that Ukraine is just a territory of Ukraine and the other is Russia.”
He said many had suggested a ceasefire, but that it was too risky without a mechanism to prevent a renewed Russian attack.
He said only NATO members could provide that kind of guarantee.
Ukraine’s president has already said the war could end next year if Ukraine’s allies show enough resolve.
According to the report, discussions on the so-called West German model (proposing a divided country to join NATO) have been ongoing in the West for over a year.
However, no formal proposal has been made yet.
It’s also worth noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far given no signs of giving up his desire to completely conquer Ukraine.
The idea that he would be willing to allow any part of Ukraine to join NATO is currently inconceivable.
All signs so far suggest that NATO intervention is off the charts at all.
