Zelensky stated that Ukraine is giving up on the goal of joining NATO in exchange for security guarantees from the West.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine's desire to join NATO is motivated by the need for real security guarantees, mentioning that some partners from the USA and Europe have not supported this direction. During the negotiations in Berlin, he emphasized the importance of bilateral security guarantees from the USA and other countries, such as Canada and Japan, to prevent a new Russian invasion. Zelensky asserted that these guarantees should be legally binding and mentioned that he is ready for constructive dialogue. He arrived in Germany for discussions with the American negotiating team, aiming to ensure Ukraine's security and avoid repeating the negative experience of the Budapest Memorandum.