President Volodymyr Zelenskyy raised the idea of a diplomatic solution to Russia’s war in Ukraine at a joint press conference with German opposition leader Friedrich Merz on Monday, the 9th of December, and said that foreign troops could be deployed in his country until Ukraine could join the NATO military alliance, reports Reuters.
The remarks were the latest signal of Kyiv’s increasing openness to war negotiations as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House on the 20th of January.
Trump called for an immediate ceasefire and talks to end the “madness” after a meeting with Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Sunday.
“Ukraine wants this war to end more than anyone else. There is no doubt that a diplomatic solution would save more lives. We are trying to achieve that,” Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv on Monday.
Zelenskyy’s spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov said later that Kyiv was preparing for a meeting in December of key European partners who, together with the US, “are able to ensure the maximum strengthening of our country”.
He added that the aim was to develop a common position that would be strong both in negotiations and on the battlefield.
Zelenskyy said that he had discussed “freezing” the lines of the war when he met with Macron and Trump.
Russia controls almost a fifth of Ukrainian territory after the 2022 invasion, which sparked the biggest conflict in Europe since the Second World War.
Zelenskyy said he told the two leaders that he did not believe Putin actually wanted to end the war and that the Russian president had to be forced to make peace.
“Force can only be used if Ukraine is strong. A strong Ukraine before any diplomacy means a strong (Ukraine) on the battlefield”, he said, implying that Kyiv needs help to become stronger.
Zelenskyy received rhetorical support from Merz, who has a strong chance of becoming the next German chancellor and who criticised Berlin’s policy on Ukraine, saying that it forces Ukraine to fight with one hand tied behind its back.
Zelenskyy revisited Macron’s February proposal to deploy European troops in Ukraine, although European leaders disagreed on the idea, with Zelenskyy pointing out that the troops could be there to provide security until NATO membership.
“But we need to have a clear understanding of when Ukraine will be in the EU and when Ukraine will be in NATO”, he added.
Kyiv has insisted throughout the war that it needs security guarantees with NATO to prevent Russia launching a new invasion after the current fighting stops.
“If there is a pause while Ukraine is not in NATO, and even if we are invited but we are not in NATO and there is a pause, then who will guarantee us any security?” Zelenskyy asked at a press conference.
Russia has demanded that Ukraine abandon its efforts to join NATO and considers Kyiv’s membership in the alliance an unacceptable security threat.
The Ukrainian leader told reporters that he hoped to call outgoing US President Joe Biden in the coming days to discuss NATO membership.
“He is the current president, and a lot depends on his opinion. And there is no point in discussing with President Trump something that does not depend on him today – while he is not yet in the White House”, said Zelenskyy.