Zelensky Calls for NATO Membership as a Path to End 'Hot Phase' of War

In a recent interview, President Zelensky outlined his views on NATO membership as a potential solution to the ongoing war, reiterating the need for comprehensive support from the alliance.

In a thought-provoking interview with Sky News, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed that if NATO were to cover the portions of Ukraine still under his government’s control, it could effectively bring an end to the "hot phase" of the ongoing conflict with Russia. Zelensky asserted that he would accept NATO membership for the unoccupied parts of Ukraine, but only if the alliance first offered membership to the entire country, including territories currently claimed by Russia.

He emphasized that attempting to grant NATO membership to a divided Ukraine would implicitly recognize the areas held by Russia as separate, which he opposed. "You can't give [an] invitation to just one part of a country," he stated. "Because thus, you would recognize that Ukraine is only that territory of Ukraine, and the other one is Russia."

The president touched on the idea of ceasefires, stating that without a guarantee to protect Ukraine from further Russian aggression, such agreements would be too risky. He expressed confidence that NATO membership could provide the necessary security assurances to stabilize the situation. Despite his optimism, Zelensky acknowledged the absence of any actionable proposal from NATO for either partial or full membership to alleviate current tensions.

Discussions surrounding a potential NATO membership model, similar to the framework once applied to West Germany during the Cold War, have reportedly circulated within Western circles for over a year. Nevertheless, no formal invitations have been extended.

Zelensky pointed out that any indication from Russian President Vladimir Putin signaling a willingness to accept such a proposal was utterly lacking. Thus, the prospect of welcoming even part of Ukraine into NATO remains, for now, an unrealistic notion. As the war drags on, the resilience of Ukraine remains on full display amidst relentless Russian assaults on vital infrastructure such as power plants, further complicating the potential for any imminent resolution.