CNN: Ukraine could lose NATO path if Alliance strikes compromises with Russia

Ukraine may be denied a path to NATO membership following a series of agreements between Alliance member states and the Russian Federation.

A source with direct knowledge of the Florida talks told CNN that the meeting was highly focused, with the most challenging aspects of the peace proposals discussed in detail, hinting that minor progress may have been made in some areas. One of the most “problematic aspects” of the US initial peace proposal was that Ukraine would have to formally abandon its NATO aspirations.

The source added that negotiators explored a scenario in which Ukraine would effectively be barred from joining the military alliance due to agreements to be made directly between NATO member states and Moscow.

“Ukraine will not be pushed to officially, in the legal sense, reject this aspiration,” the source said.

The report also notes that if the United States reaches a bilateral deal with Russia, or if Russia seeks specific guarantees from NATO on a multilateral basis, Ukraine would not be involved in the decision-making process.

The final decision, described as a highly delicate compromise, has yet to be made and will ultimately rest with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Another problematic area in the 28-point US peace proposal is the Kremlin’s demand for Ukraine to cede territory in the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine, which has been annexed but not fully controlled by Russia.

The US plan suggested the region, containing a “fortress belt” of heavily defended towns and cities considered vital to Ukrainian security, be turned into a Russian-administered demilitarised zone, where Moscow could oversee administration but not deploy military forces.

According to the CNN source, the idea of ceding control to the Russians, which would significantly weaken Ukraine’s defence, increase the likelihood of further aggression, and substantially reduce Ukraine’s capabilities, was considered out of scope.

However, the source refused to discuss which specific options are under discussion, saying the issue is “too sensitive.”

Another potential spoiler could emerge in the coming days: the Kremlin, which has so far refused to relent on any of its maximalist demands to subjugate Ukraine before ending the war.

As US negotiators hint at possible Ukrainian compromises, the next major challenge in America’s shuttle diplomacy may be convincing Russia to accept them.

By Jeyhun Aghazada