Amid pressure from U.S., Zelenskyy says he's open to an election that might be impossible
NBC3 days
Ukraine Prepared to Give Up NATO Admission in Exchange for Security Guarantees
Is Zelenskyy finally accepting compromise, or is this a sleight of hand that Moscow will not fall for?
Above: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pictured in London on Dec. 8, 2025. Image credit: Chris Ratcliffe/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
Successful peace talks are dependent on Zelenskyy's realisation that he is fighting a losing battle and must come to the table with compromise. Personal ego cannot sit above the national interest of Ukraine, and the U.S. will not fund another forever war. With luck, these talks are finally producing the consensus needed for Trump to deliver another long-lasting peace deal.
Pro-establishment narrative
With or without NATO membership, Ukraine's future as an independent, sovereign nation relies upon meaningful security guarantees being given by the U.S. and its partners. Without such an agreement years of Ukrainian bloodshed will be for nothing, and unless these conditions are met Ukraine must continue to fight for its survival.
Pro-Russia narrative
NATO membership has always been a primary example of Ukrainian and Western aggression that Russia has sought to neutralize. Abandonment of this policy goal, therefore, is in theory welcome but conditional on NATO membership not being replaced by an unsuitable alternative. Unfortunately, history shows that Zelenskyy's words can rarely be trusted.
Metaculus Prediction
The Controversies
Go Deeper
Establishment split
CRITICAL
PRO
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© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.1
© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.18.1