Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday evening that he is ready to discuss his country's commitment to not seek NATO membership in exchange for a ceasefire, withdrawal of Russian troops, and guarantees for Ukraine's security. Zelensky stated during an interview with local television channels: "This is a compromise for everyone: for the West, which does not know what to do with us regarding NATO, for Ukraine, which wants security guarantees, and for Russia, which does not want further NATO expansion."
He also reiterated his call for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, "Unless I meet with Putin, it's impossible to know if Russia wants to stop the war." He mentioned that Kyiv would be open to discussing the status of the Crimea Peninsula and the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, which is controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, after a ceasefire and steps are taken to provide security guarantees for his country.
**Japanese Parliament Appearance**
The Ukrainian president is scheduled to deliver a virtual speech to the Japanese parliament on Wednesday to rally international support in his country's war against the Russian invasion. Japan has taken a firm stance against Russia, aligning with the positions of the other G7 countries, despite Moscow's retaliatory response to Tokyo's stance.
Zelensky's speech, expected to last about 10 minutes, will be presented in the House of Representatives' meeting room. He has previously given virtual speeches to the U.S. Congress, as well as parliaments in Europe, Canada, and Israel. Notably, prominent foreign figures, including former U.S. President George W. Bush and former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, have delivered remarks during their official visits to Japan, but Zelensky's address will mark a first for a foreign leader.
Japan has implemented a series of sanctions on Russia in recent weeks, including freezing the assets of certain individuals, banning the export of luxury goods and high-tech equipment to the country, and revoking Russia's most favored nation trading status.
