Ukraine pushes for NATO membership
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now proposed allowing those parts of Ukraine that are free to join the alliance. Russian-occupied areas in Eastern Ukraine as well as the illegally annexed Crimean peninsula (comprising some 27% of Ukraine), he said, would be excluded from joining for now. Zelenskyy hopes the move will thwart any further Russian advances, making negotiations for a ceasefire with Russian President Vladimir Putin possible.
