A BIG IF

Zelensky Suggests Peace Deal Possible if Ukraine Gets NATO Membership

The Ukrainian president said Russian-occupied territory could be handled diplomatically later if Ukraine is allowed to join NATO.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined his requirements for a peace deal with Russia on Friday. Asked to respond to President-elect Donald Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine should cede territory, Zelensky told Sky News that if the North Atlantic Treaty Organization accepts Ukraine’s membership request, he will consider diplomatically negotiating Ukraine’s Russian-occupied territory at a later date. “If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control,” Zelensky said. “We need to do it fast. And then on the [occupied] territory of Ukraine, Ukraine can get them back in a diplomatic way.” The war in Ukraine has been ongoing since Russia invaded in February 2022. Trump has suggested that once he assumes office, he will be able to end the war in 24 hours.