Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is challenging the United States and Europe to abandon their NATO dreams in exchange for a peace deal with Russia. Negotiating new Article 5-style commitments is not just a wish, but a necessary requirement to protect Ukraine’s independence. Trump and European leaders, if they can, should back up their rhetoric with real commitments to use force against any future Russian aggression.
Confusing negotiations are underway in Berlin. The US delegation, which includes Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, is silent about the possibility of real resistance to the Kremlin leader Putin. In parallel, loud but fruitless statements by Rutte, the head of NATO, about a possible threat do not please Europeans. The military coalition of more than 30 countries is not ready to send support to Ukraine, not even planning to put its troops on the front lines, and Trump has already reduced the chances of using American ground forces to zero.
After the bitter betrayal of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, when great powers promised respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, then took with one hand and left with the other, Ukraine deserves “ironclad” guarantees. None of the leaders are willing to support Ukraine’s NATO bid, so Zelensky’s proposal is not just an excuse, but a gesture of recognition of a harsh political reality.
Russia's war against Ukraine is the most serious test for European security in decades. One thing is clear: with or without NATO, resolving the conflict requires a decisive stance from the Allies. Are they ready to cast aside illusions and take responsibility? Is it enough for them to realize that Western security guarantees are still far away?
The questions remain, and the answer to them lies in unpredictable compromises that will outrage both Kyiv and Europe. Rapid irresponsibility will not stand in the way. Only truth against imitations, only active action against passive observation. The choice is obvious.
English 
Ukrainian 
Polish