It is the first time that the Ukrainian president has opened a ceasefire that means continued Russian control over the occupied territories.
The condition is that the NATO invitation takes into account Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and that the free part of Ukraine is quickly covered by the NATO umbrella.
In the interview, Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that a ceasefire is needed to “guarantee that Putin does not come back to take more Ukrainian territory”.
– We have to do it quickly. And then Ukraine can get back the Russian-occupied territories in a diplomatic way, says the president.
The contact with Trump
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to mediate peace between Ukraine and Russia, and according to reports even before he is sworn in.
When asked if he has spoken with Trump, Zelenskyy replies that they met in September when he was visiting New York.
– We had a conversation. It was very warm, good, constructive… It was a very good meeting and it was an important first step, now we have to prepare some meetings.
Just over a fifth of Ukraine’s territory is currently under Russian control.