Zelenskyy is accepting defeat

In an interview with Sky News, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently said Ukraine may have to cede territory. He recognizes Trump may want him to cede Kharkov, Donbass, Kherson, Crimea, and is preparing for it. He said he will be willing to do this if the rest of Ukraine can join NATO. This part is irrelevant, as Zelenskyy knows the rest of Ukraine cannot join NATO. He is only saying this to make it sound better to Ukrainians still willing to fight. His comments to Sky News reveal a willingness to make a peace deal which involves ceding territory. With or without Trump, Ukraine is losing and Zelenskyy knows this.

For those interested, Kharkov is the second-largest city in Ukraine.

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specman · 51-55, MVIP

I’m only asking because I don’t know the answer, but why can’t Ukraine join NATO? I don’t have any angle on the answer or the question.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@specman Because Ukraine is the frontier between Russia and Europe and joining the alliance is generally seen as a risky provocation. Other border states not aligned with Russia have historically maintained neutrality. But with the recent applications by Sweden and Finland to join NATO there is now precedent and no reason why Ukraine should not follow suit in the longer term.

carpediem · 61-69, M

@specman Their is a long standing agreement tied to the reunification of Germany. There was not supposed to be any further expansion of NATO in exchange for that reunification. But NATA reneged and here we are today.

Actually @SunshineGirl makes a decent point ✌. Then blend in this agreement for a more accurate analysis of why things stand the way they do.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@carpediem Gorbachev tried to insist that re-unified Germany would not inherit West Germany's seat in NATO. This was resisted but Germany did scale down its armed forces. NATO is a coalition of sovereign states. The treaty parties could not have made any such guarantee, even if they wanted to.

SW-User

@specman NATO is a western military alliance and Russia does not want it on its doorstep. There is no need for Ukraine to join. NATO has gone far enough.

carpediem · 61-69, M

@SunshineGirl The US made it. “Not another inch” was the phrase. They lied.