Zelensky largely concedes Ukraine won't join NATO, U.S. envoy says

22/3/2025 13:37

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has largely conceded that Ukraine will not be able to join NATO, said Steven Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East, on Friday.



Zelensky and Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, have "largely conceded that they are not going to be a member of NATO," he said in an interview with U.S. journalist Tucker Carlson.



Witkoff said, "If there's going to be a peace deal, Ukraine cannot be a member of NATO. I think that's largely accepted."



The envoy also claimed that the Ukrainian leadership has agreed to hold elections, without giving details.



Witkoff responded, "Do you think there will be elections in Ukraine?" Carlson asked. "Yes. There will be. They've agreed to it. There will be elections in Ukraine."



A presidential election was expected to be held in 2024 but was postponed due to the country's martial law, which has been in effect since the start of the ongoing conflict with Russia. A month ago, Trump labeled Zelensky a "Dictator without Elections."