Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s comments suggest a potential policy shift by Kyiv as Russian troops make tactical advances in eastern Ukraine and the future of Western support for the country hangs in the balance in light of Donald Trump’s imminent return to the White House.
During his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly criticized U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration for allocating billions of dollars to Ukraine in military aid.
Speaking to the private Japanese news agency Kyodo News on Sunday, Zelenskyy said: “Our army lacks the strength to do that [retake all Russian-held territories]. That is true.
“We do have to find diplomatic solutions.”
Zelenskyy said that Russia’s war in Ukraine, now approaching its third year, has entered a “complicated period,” and that the current level of international support for Ukraine is not sufficient.
He also reiterated his call for NATO to initiate membership talks with Kyiv as early as possible.
Ukraine has been pressing NATO allies to extend an invitation for membership when the alliance’s foreign ministers meet in Brussels on December 3-4.
Zelenskyy
said last week that Ukraine would consider a peace deal that involved NATO membership even if Russia did not immediately relinquish the land it currently occupies.
He told the UK’s Sky News on Friday that a NATO deal would have to cover all territory under Kyiv’s control, with the occupied parts subject to diplomatic negotiations later.
