Zelensky interview: “hot phase” in exchange for NATO (video)

President Volodymyr Zelensky told Sky News' leading correspondent Stuart Ramsey that the “hot phase” of the war in Ukraine could end in exchange for NATO membership, even if the captured lands were not immediately returned.

However, he emphasized that NATO membership should be offered to the unoccupied parts of the country to end the “hot phase of the war”, provided that the NATO invitation recognizes Ukraine's internationally recognized borders.

The President of Ukraine suggests that a ceasefire agreement with Russia can be concluded if the unoccupied territories controlled by Ukraine are taken “under the NATO umbrella” and are protected. According to Zelensky, this would allow negotiations to return the rest of the territory later “diplomatically.”

Zelensky also noted that a ceasefire is needed to “ensure that Putin does not return” to seize more Ukrainian territory.

In his first interview with the British media since Trump's election victory, Zelensky, when asked what he thought of the president-elect, replied: “We need to work with the new president” to “have the greatest support”:

“I want to work with him directly because people around him speak differently. And that's why we don't need [позволять] no one around to ruin our communication. This will not be beneficial and will be destructive. We must try to find a new model. I want to share ideas with him and I want to hear his opinion.”

In this interview, notes edition, Mr. Zelensky hinted for the first time at a ceasefire agreement that would include Russian control of Ukrainian territory. Throughout the conflict, he never said he would cede any occupied Ukrainian territory to Russia, including Crimea, which Russia occupied in February 2014 and officially annexed the following month. The publication notes:

“In September 2022, Russia unilaterally announced the annexation of the territories of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporozhye regions of Ukraine and around them following referendums that were not recognized internationally. Mr. Zelensky has long held the position that this territory remains Ukrainian, that “The occupation of this land by Russia is illegal and that Kyiv will not cede any of its territory for the sake of concluding a peace agreement.”

In the same interview, Zelensky announced refusal to reduce mobilization ageas the Americans demand. But he made it clear that ready to consider this issue if the West increases arms supplies: “How do you want me to just mobilize young guys and say that they don’t know where to go to which brigade with which weapons? And if European or American officials have an idea about the mobilization age, I want to ask our partners to do their job, and we will do our own thing.” According to him, the partners have only equipped “two and a half brigades,” but there is “a real problem with ten brigades that our partners have not equipped.”

Video interview:

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