Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated a willingness to cede territory to Russia as part of a potential peace deal, suggesting that NATO membership for Ukraine could signify the end of the current ‘hot phase’ of the war. He emphasized that NATO guarantees could protect unoccupied areas of Ukraine, which is a significant shift from his previous stance. In his statements, Zelenskyy highlighted that the war could conclude by 2025 with strengthened pressure on Russia, while also acknowledging that the proposed concessions might be seen as a major departure from Ukraine’s prior positions.