NATO will not fight with Russia, does not want to join the alliance: President of Ukraine

NATO will not fight with Russia, does not want to join the alliance: President of Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that NATO membership for Ukraine was no longer under pressure, which was a subtle issue that was one of Russia's alleged reasons for invading its pro - Western neighbor.

In another outspoken intervention aimed at appeasing Moscow, Zelensky said he was ready to "compromise" on the status of the two pro-Russian territories that President Vladimir Putin had freely recognized just before unleashing the invasion on February 24.

"I'm been quiet about this question for a long time after we realized that NATO was not ready to accept Ukraine," Zelensky said in an interview with ABC News on Monday night.

"The alliance fears contentious issues and a confrontation with Russia," the president added.

Referring to NATO members, Zhelensky, through a translator, said he did not want to be president of a "country that kneels and begs for anything."

Russia has said it doesn't need adjoining Ukraine to join NATO, the overseas coalition made toward the beginning of the Cold War to safeguard Europe from the Soviet Union.

In the most recent years, in the former Soviet bloc countries, to the anger of the Kremlin, the alliance expanded further and further east.

Russia sees the danger of NATO escalating the tactical position of these new Western allies.

Putin currently needs Ukraine to perceive itself as sovereign and free.

When ABC asked him about this Russian request, Zhelensky said he was ready for conversation.

"This is another final warning. We are not ready for the final warning. All that needs to be done is for President Putin to start talking. Instead of living in an information bubble without oxygen, start a conversation."