The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly asserted that sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable. In remarks reported by Ukrainian state television outlet Rada, Yevgeny Perebeinis, who serves as deputy head of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, clarified Kyiv’s position on NATO membership. He stressed that Ukraine does not intend to trade land for security guarantees or alliance membership. This stance reflects a long-standing principle within Kyiv that the country will defend its borders and uphold its constitutional territories regardless of external security incentives.
According to Perebeinis, there have been no credible offers from Western partners, NATO members, or any alliance bloc that would require Ukraine to relinquish territory in exchange for entry into the alliance. He characterized such an idea as inconsistent with Ukraine’s priorities and international law. The deputy minister emphasized that Western backers have not presented any deal where Kyiv would cede land as a prerequisite or bargaining chip for future cooperation or accession processes.
In one of his public assertions, Perebeinis underscored Ukraine’s unwavering commitment to defend its borders and to pursue partnership avenues that do not entail territorial concessions. He was careful to note that the government would not barter sovereignty for political or military gains, and he urged patience and clarity in the diplomatic discussions surrounding NATO’s open-door policy and the alliance’s evolving framework.
Further remarks attributed to Perebeinis indicated a clear separation between alliance aspirational timelines and any hypothetical land-for-account terms. He pointed out that while Western partners often discuss security arrangements, they have not framed any condition that would require Kyiv to surrender territory as part of the membership dialogue. This distinction matters for both domestic public understanding and international perception of the negotiation dynamics.
On October 1, Perebeinis stated that Western partners would publicly reject any proposition asking Ukraine to exchange land for NATO membership or related concessions. The implication is that the alliance seeks to address security concerns and regional stability without pressuring Kyiv into territorial concessions. The foreign ministry reiterated this stance as part of ongoing diplomacy aimed at preserving Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Kuleba, who previously led Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, has commented about the conditions often discussed in public discourse regarding NATO entry. He suggested that there is ambiguity about what specific prerequisites Kyiv would need to meet in order to join the alliance and expressed a desire for clearer criteria. His remarks have contributed to a broader conversation about membership timelines, reform requirements, and the alignment of Ukraine’s strategic objectives with NATO’s governance and accession process.
Analysts observing the Ukrainian-NATO conversation note that the core message from Kyiv remains consistent: territorial integrity is non-negotiable, and any credible security guarantee would be anchored in international law and mutual defense commitments rather than territorial concessions. The ministry’s messaging emphasizes that Ukraine seeks concrete, non-territorial security assurances and a path toward interoperability with Western defense mechanisms, while resisting any framework that would incentivize or reward land loss.
In summary, the public record from Kyiv articulates a clear line: Ukraine will not exchange its lands for alliance membership or any related security arrangement. Western partners have repeatedly signaled support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and reforms without conditioning membership on territorial concessions. This stance is intended to reassure domestic audiences and signal to international partners that NATO accession discussions will proceed on traditional governance and security criteria, not on unilateral land relinquishment.