Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed willingness to abandon Ukraine’s NATO membership bid in exchange for Western security guarantees, while firmly rejecting US proposals to cede territory to Russia. During talks with US envoys, he emphasized the need for legally binding assurances and criticized the notion of creating a demilitarized economic zone in the Donetsk region, calling it impractical. Zelenskyy’s stance reflects the complexities of ongoing negotiations amid Russia’s continuous military aggression, which has devastated Ukraine’s infrastructure. This situation underscores the broader geopolitical tensions as Zelenskyy and European leaders seek a robust framework for Ukraine’s security and sovereignty against the backdrop of potential territorial compromises demanded by Russia.