Ukraine's offer to abandon its bid to join the NATO military alliance is unlikely to significantly change the course of peace talks, American security experts said, the British agency Reuters reported on its website today.
During negotiations with US envoys on a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky offered on Sunday to abandon Ukraine's NATO aspirations.
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"It doesn't change things at all. It's an attempt to appear reasonable," said Justin Logan, director of defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute.
Ukraine's NATO membership was not realistic anyway, said Logan and Andrew Michta, a professor of strategic studies at the University of Florida.
Mikha called Ukraine's admission to NATO an "irrelevant issue" at this point.
There are other ways for nations to try to ensure Ukraine's security, Logan said, adding that US President Donald Trump, in response to Zelensky's offer, could commit to the same things the US has already done to support Ukraine, such as sending weapons and sanctioning Russia.
Not everyone rejected Zelensky's offer.
Bret Bruen, a former foreign policy adviser in the administration of former US President Barack Obama and now head of the consultancy Global Situation Room, called Ukraine's concession "significant and essential."
"It's a way for Zelensky to compare Ukraine's willingness to make significant concessions for peace at a time when Moscow has not made any significant concessions," Bruen said.
The question is what Zelensky got in return for reneging on a fairly firm promise to the Ukrainian people, the expert added.
Bruen said Trump may have promised to patrol Ukrainian skies or respond to aircraft incursions.
The US could also increase the delivery of military aid if Russia were to launch a major military offensive again, he said.
A meeting of 12 European leaders on Ukraine will be held in Berlin today, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer among the participants.
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