Ukraine’s Zelensky says he backs ceasefire with Russia if Nato protects unoccupied land

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested he would accept a ceasefire with Russia that left parts of his country occupied in return for Nato security guarantees over the rest, the strongest signal yet that the Ukrainian leader is open to ending the war without regaining all territory.

Zelensky made the comments in an interview with Sky News broadcast on Friday when asked about a scenario in which Nato security guarantees covered only territory controlled by Kyiv.

“If we want to stop the hot stage of war, we should take under Nato umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control. That’s what we need to do fast,” Zelensky said in the interview, according to a translation by Sky News. “And then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically.”

He added that no country has made such a proposal to Ukraine, and that it would be difficult to establish Nato protection for only part of a country. Members of Nato have resisted Ukraine’s aspirations to join the military alliance any time soon because its provision for mutual defence would require them to send in their forces to repel any future attacks.

The nearly three-year war is heading for a turning point next year as Russian troops make steady advances from the east and US president-elect Donald Trump has pledged to end the hostilities.