Ukraine is ready to drop its bid for NATO membership in exchange for Western security guarantees, as a compromise to end the war with Russia. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before talks in Berlin with American representatives.

Zelensky's statement marks a major shift for Ukraine, which has been striving for membership in the Alliance as protection from Russian attacks, and this aspiration is included in the country's constitution. The move also responds to one of Russia's military goals, although until now Kyiv has strongly opposed ceding territory to Moscow.

Zelensky answered journalistic questions in the WhatsApp application. The Ukrainian president added that there will be no peace plan that will please everyone and that compromises will have to be made. He pointed out that a ceasefire on the current front line would be a fair option.

Volodymyr Zelensky: "From the very beginning, the Ukrainian conditions, or rather the desire, was to join NATO. These were real security guarantees. Some partners from the United States and Europe did not support this direction. Therefore, today bilateral security guarantees between Ukraine and the United States, security guarantees similar to Article 5 of NATO, for us from the United States, and security guarantees from European colleagues, as well as from other countries - Canada, Japan, are an opportunity to prevent another Russian invasion. And this is already a compromise on our part."