Zelensky complained about Western officials who want to persuade him to exchange territories for NATO membership

Some Western officials are promoting an agreement under which Kyiv would trade the territories captured by Russia in exchange for NATO membership.

This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with “Financial Times”.

However, according to Zelensky, these officials have never discussed such ideas directly with him.

“People have never said this. People are afraid to say it,” he remarked, calling on those officials to “put it on the table, not through some third party.”

“Talk to us,” Zelensky added.

“Financial Times” reported that some officials from Western countries “privately suggested that NATO membership could be used as a bargaining chip in any negotiations with Moscow.”

It is worth noting that following Zelensky’s presentation of his “victory plan,” Western commentators have described Ukraine’s prospects for joining NATO as unrealistic.

Earlier, it was revealed that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his willingness to speak with Vladimir Putin. Scholz stated that the time has come for Western countries to do everything possible to ensure that the fighting in Ukraine “does not continue indefinitely.” He also mentioned Ukraine’s agreement to include Russia in the next “peace summit.”