Amid Russia’s violent behavior, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he is no more pressing for NATO alliance’s membership as it is one of the reasons why it is being attacked.
In his bid to cool down Moscow, he said that he is ready to “compromise” on the status of two pro-Russian territories which Russia thought to be independent before the invasion that is going for 13 days now.
“I have cooled down regarding this question a long time ago after we understood that…NATO is not prepared to accept Ukraine,” said Zelensky in an interview broadcasted on AbC News.
“The alliance is afraid of controversial things, and confrontation with Russia,” he further said.
While speaking on NATO membership, the Ukraine President said that he does not want to rule a “country which is begging something on its knees”.
Russia had made it clear that it does not want Ukraine to join NATO.
NATO is a military alliance which was created during the Cold War to protect Europe from Soviet Union. In last few years, many countries have joined NATO making it a expanded alliance.
Russia considers this NATO’s expansion as a threat, as it handles the military operation of these new Western members on its doorstep.
Shortly before announcing invasion in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin considered two pro-Russian territories as independent in Ukraine- – Donetsk and Lugansk – – that have been at battle with Kyiv beginning around 2014.
Now, Putin wants Ukraine too, to consider them as independent and sovereign.
When the ABC News questioned President Zelensky about Russia’s demands, he said that he was open to talk.
“I am talking about security guarantee,” he mentioned.
He said that two areas “have 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.”
“What 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,” said Ukraine President.
“So the question is more difficult than simply acknowledging them,” Zelensky further said.
“This 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,” he also said.
