Ukraine no longer to insist on joining NATO, may compromise Lugansk, Donetsk

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Ukraine is not interested in NATO membership no longer: While one of the reasons why Moscow launched its military operation against Ukraine is because of Ukraine's constant threat of joining NATO, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he will no longer be pressing for NATO membership for Ukraine.

This could come as a result of the ongoing negotiations between Kiev and Moscow, where Ukraine is demanded to compromise and succumb to Russian demands in an already-losing war.

Zelensky said he is open to compromise on the status of two territories - Lugansk and Donetsk - which Putin recognized as independent states just before the authorization of the military operation on February 24. 

"I have cooled down regarding this question a long time ago after we understood that ... NATO is not prepared to accept Ukraine," Zelensky said in an interview aired Monday night on ABC News. "The alliance is afraid of controversial things, and confrontation with Russia," the president added. 

Regarding joining NATO, Zelensky said that he does not want to be the president of a "country which is begging something on its knees" - this comes especially after NATO abandoned its empty promises regarding Ukraine's defense against Russia.

Read more: Zelensky: Ukraine ended up defending itself on its own

Russia sees NATO expansion as a threat, especially that over the years the Cold War-era alliance expanded eastward, putting Russian interests at risk. 

For Ukraine to join NATO would mean NATO military bases at Russia's doorstep, which led to Moscow's operation in Ukraine.

In an interview with ABC, Zelensky, addressing the Russian compromises, said that he was open to dialogue: "I'm talking about security guarantees," he said. He said these two regions "have not been recognized by anyone but Russia, these pseudo republics. But we can discuss and find the compromise on how these territories will live on."

Read more: Ukrainian MP: Criminal Zelensky refused dialogue with Russia

"What is important to me is how the people in those territories are going to live who want to be part of Ukraine, who in Ukraine will say that they want to have them in," Zelensky said. "So the question is more difficult than simply acknowledging them."

"This is another ultimatum and we are not prepared for ultimatums. What needs to be done is for President Putin to start talking, start the dialogue instead of living in the informational bubble without oxygen."