A handout photograph released by the UK Parliament shows MPs listening to Ukraine鈥檚 President Volodymyr Zelensky speaking to them by live video-link in the House of Commons, in London, on March 8, 2022. Ukraine鈥檚 President Volodymyr Zelensky, invoking the wartime defiance of British prime minister Winston Churchill, vowed on March 8, 2022 to 鈥渇ight to the end鈥� in a historic virtual speech to UK lawmakers. (Photo by JESSICA TAYLOR / various sources / AFP)
WASHINGTON 鈥斅燩resident Volodymyr Zelensky said he is no longer pressing for NATO membership for Ukraine, a delicate issue that was one of Russia鈥檚 stated reasons for invading its pro-Western neighbor.
In another apparent nod aimed at placating Moscow, Zelensky said he is open to 鈥渃ompromise鈥� on the status of two breakaway pro-Russian territories that President Vladimir Putin recognized as independent just before unleashing the invasion on February 24.
鈥淚 have cooled down regarding this question a long time ago after we understood that 鈥� NATO is not prepared to accept Ukraine,鈥� Zelensky said in an interview aired Monday night on ABC 好色先生TV.
鈥淭he alliance is afraid of controversial things, and confrontation with Russia,鈥� the president added.
Referring to NATO membership, Zelensky said through an interpreter that he does not want to be president of a 鈥渃ountry which is begging something on its knees.鈥�
Russia has said it does not want neighboring Ukraine to join NATO, the transatlantic alliance created at the start of the Cold War to protect Europe from the Soviet Union.
In more recent years the alliance has expanded further and further east to take in former Soviet bloc countries, infuriating the Kremlin.
Russia sees NATO enlargement as a threat, as it does the military posture of these new Western allies on its doorstep.
Shortly before he shocked the world by ordering the invasion of Ukraine, Putin recognized as independent two separatist pro-Russian 鈥渞epublics鈥� in eastern Ukraine 鈥� Donetsk and Lugansk 鈥� that have been at war with Kyiv since 2014.
Putin now wants Ukraine, too, to recognize them as sovereign and independent.
When ABC asked him about this Russian demand, Zelensky said he was open to dialogue.
鈥淚鈥檓 talking about security guarantees,鈥� he said.
He said these two regions 鈥渉ave not been recognized by anyone but Russia, these pseudo republics. But we can discuss and find the compromise on how these territories will live on.鈥�
鈥淲hat is important to me is how the people in those territories are going to live who want to be part of Ukraine, who in Ukraine will say that they want to have them in,鈥� Zelensky said.
鈥淪o the question is more difficult than simply acknowledging them,鈥� the president said.
鈥淭his is another ultimatum and we are not prepared for ultimatums. What needs to be done is for President Putin to start talking, start the dialogue instead of living in the informational bubble without oxygen.鈥�
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