Zelensky: Ukraine renounces NATO membership

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said ahead of talks with US envoys in Berlin that Ukraine is giving up its ambition to join NATO in exchange for Western security guarantees as a compromise to end the war with Russia.

Zelensky said that security guarantees from the US, Europe and other partners in lieu of NATO membership were a compromise on Ukraine's part.

"From the very beginning, Ukraine's desire was to join NATO, these are real security guarantees. Some partners from the US and Europe did not support this direction," he said, answering journalists' questions in a WhatsApp group, Indexhr writes, reports Klankosova.

"Therefore, today, bilateral security guarantees between Ukraine and the United States, Article 5-like guarantees for us from the United States, and security guarantees from European colleagues, as well as from other countries such as Canada and Japan, are an opportunity to prevent another Russian invasion," Zelensky said.

Zelensky earlier called for a "dignified" peace and assurances that Russia would not attack Ukraine again, as he prepared to meet with US envoys and European allies in Berlin to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.