Volodymyr Zelensky’s new diplomatic maneuver. Returning to his proposal for Ukraine to join NATO, and aiming to soften the reactions of member states, President Zelensky clarified on Sunday that if his country joins NATO during the war, Article 5 of the North Atlantic Alliance, the which provides for collective protection against external risk, may not apply to its entire territory.

The Ukrainian president made the statement at a joint press conference with Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, on Sunday, Ukrainian media reported.

Zelensky made it clear that Ukraine will never legally recognize any occupation of its territory by Russia.

“The invitation to NATO cannot be addressed only to a part of the Ukrainian land. This is an automatic recognition that all other regions are not only in danger, but also do not belong to Ukraine. Ukraine will never do that. If this is an invitation, please include all areas,” he initially stated.

However, he later clarified, we understand that Article 5 (of the North Atlantic Treaty), if we are a member of NATO, cannot apply to the entire territory of Ukraine, because the member states oppose the risks of involvement in war.

At the same time, Zelensky stated that Kiev has not received official recommendations from the partners regarding the regulation of joining the Alliance.

Ukraine’s president acknowledged the possibility that Ukraine would sign a “ceasefire agreement” if Kiev-controlled territory is brought “under the NATO umbrella.”

Ukrainian authorities had previously said the Alliance would not invite Kiev to join until the war was over, clarifying that joining would take place just within internationally recognized borders.

Zelensky said Joe Biden’s administration has the potential to influence NATO members in Europe, who are currently skeptical about Ukraine joining the alliance amid war.

“But there is still a German side, there is still a Hungarian side, and therefore only a strengthened message can be positively perceived by all leaders.”

Ukraine’s president said the current US administration has two more months in office, and the US “has influence over those few European skeptics about our future” in the Alliance.

“I, for one, do not see any danger in Ukraine’s possible future membership in NATO, as most NATO countries do not. Not even an invitation, but an advice to the leaders about Ukraine’s future invitation to NATO,” he remarked, referring to the meeting of the Alliance’s foreign ministers. Conference on December 3-4.

Zelensky added that he is not asking Ukraine’s partners to deploy troops to the country because such a request “will probably force about half of them to completely withdraw their support.”

He noted that representatives of the EU and NATO should participate in possible negotiations with Russia after Ukraine strengthens its position.

New European aid totaling 1.5 billion euro in Ukraine

The European Union’s undivided support for the Ukrainian people was expressed by the president of the European Council in the joint interview with the Ukrainian president on the anniversary of Ukraine’s independence referendum.

He underlined the need to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, condemning Russia’s attacks. The EU pledged to continue providing significant financial and humanitarian aid, including €4.2 billion to support the Ukrainian budget, as well as monthly missions totaling €1.5 billion for a year financed by “frozen” Russian assets.

Antonio Costa also stressed the importance of stepping up pressure on Russia, announcing a 15th package of sanctions, and supported the prospect of Ukraine joining the European family in the future.

Biden denies the possibility of delivering nuclear weapons to Ukraine

Meanwhile, the Biden administration has denied the possibility of providing nuclear weapons to Ukraine.

The return of nuclear weapons to Ukraine, which it handed over in the early 1990s (as part of its independence from the USSR) is not considered part of the United States’ military support efforts, Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Adviser, said in an interview on ABC News.

Sullivan was asked to comment on last month’s New York Times article that some Biden administration officials reportedly recognize the possibility of returning to Ukraine the nuclear capability it gave up after the collapse of the Soviet Union.