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Trade NATO membership for territory – President Zelensky rejects media leaks

Trade NATO membership for territory – President Zelensky rejects media leaks

“We don’t discuss it. However, I believe that these media leaks are not a coincidence,” Zelensky said when asked whether membership in NATO could be exchanged for the occupied territories.

He did not rule out the possibility that “some partners might have such thoughts.”

“That is why they are not communicating these questions to me directly, but it is clear that they are testing the situation through the media. I think it all depends on Ukrainian society,” the president said.

He added that Ukraine is currently raising the issue of security guarantees in all negotiations. “The best option is NATO. During the war – an invitation, a completely open one, with a strong position in any diplomatic format. In my opinion, this invitation does not depend on Russia’s opinion. As soon as certain partners are convinced that they are.” “If we are stronger than Russia, we will see positive developments in this direction,” Zelensky added.

Asked whether there could be talks about partial NATO membership without the occupied territories, Zelensky said: “Everyone understands that no matter which path we take, no one will legally recognize the occupied territories as the property of other states.”

The President emphasized that the invitation to join NATO must also be extended to Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

“For me this is a fundamental theme: receiving an invitation during the war. I believe this is an important part of the package we are proposing. It’s not just an invitation; it is an invitation while the war is still ongoing. How “How long the accession will take place and how long it will last are the next steps, which will include diplomacy,” Zelenskyy added.

It should be noted that last week Zelensky accused Ukraine’s partners of pushing for a deal in which Kiev would trade its Russian-occupied territories for NATO membership. According to him, this is being discussed behind the scenes but no one has approached him with such suggestions.