Zelensky says he will forego NATO ambitions for security guarantees

Ukraine is willing to pause its push to join NATO, at least for now, if the United States offers strong security guarantees to prevent future Russian attacks. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made the offer during five hours of talks with senior US envoys in Berlin on Sunday, as diplomatic efforts intensify to end the war with Russia. 

Zelensky described the move as a compromise, saying guarantees backed by the US, Europe, and partners such as Canada and Japan could offer meaningful protection.

The talks come as President Donald Trump urges Kyiv to accept a deal, arguing Ukraine is losing ground.

While Zelensky signaled flexibility, he set firm limits. He firmly rejected any proposal that would force Ukraine to give up territory it still controls. He said peace cannot come at the cost of national sovereignty.

The proposal marks a significant shift for Kyiv, which has long viewed NATO membership as vital protection and has written that aim into its constitution. 

Meanwhile, fighting intensified over the weekend. Russia launched large-scale drone and missile strikes on Ukraine’s power and port infrastructure, leaving more than one million people without electricity as temperatures neared freezing.

Kyiv responded with a deadly drone strike in Russia’s Saratov region.