Author: dmitriy.vasyura@gmail.com

To end the "hot phase of the war," NATO would have to offer membership to Ukrainian territory under government control, with the invitation recognizing the country's internationally recognized borders, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Sky News

"If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should quickly take under NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control. That's what we need to do first, and then Ukraine can get back the other parts of its territory in a diplomatic way," Zelensky said during the interview, which was published on Nov. 29.

According to the president, Kyiv has never considered such a proposal, since "no one has ever offered that to us officially."

Donald Trump's election has intensified uncertainty around Ukraine's war effort. He criticized U.S. military support provided to Ukraine by Joe Biden's administration. Some reports also indicate this would entail forcing Ukraine to cede territory and at least temporarily give up on its NATO accession plans.

Zelensky's latest remarks are somewhat at odds with his previous statements. He said that the signals of Ukraine's accession to NATO in parts is "nonsense," and Ukraine "will never exchange any status for any of our territories."

The president's comments to Sky News imply that territories currently occupied by Russia would not fall under the "NATO umbrella" in this scenario.

Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts are partially controlled by Russian troops. Russia claims to have annexed the whole territory of those regions in 2022 despite not controlling two regional capitals — Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Moscow also controls all of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.

Throughout 2024, Ukraine has faced a challenging situation in its defense of the front line, particularly in Donetsk Oblast, where Russia has consistently concentrated its offensive potential.

Ukraine applied for NATO membership in September 2022 but has yet to receive a formal invitation.

Despite high expectations in Kyiv, the last two allied summits brought only new steps toward deepening Ukraine-NATO cooperation and a declaration that the country's membership path is "irreversible."

The Counteroffensive: Ukraine’s nuclear ambitions fueled by betrayal, hindered by feasibilityEditor’s Note: This article was published by the twice-weekly newsletter “The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak” on Nov. 23, 2024, and has been re-published by the Kyiv Independent with permission. To subscribe to The Counteroffensive, click here. For a brief period just over 30 years ago, Ukraine poss…The Kyiv IndependentMariana Lastovyria

Volodymyr Zelensky appointed the commander of the 93rd Kholodny Yar brigade Pavlo Palisa as deputy head of the Presidential Office. The president stressed the importance of appointing a Combat Commander to obtain operational information from the front.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Commander of the 93rd Kholodny Yar brigade Pavlo Palisa as deputy head of the presidential office. Zelensky stated this in an evening address, reports UNN.

He also appointed Colonel Pavlo Palisa as deputy head of the Office – Combat Commander, Commander of the 93rd Kholodny Yar brigade. He is well aware that in the brigades, at the front, and I need just such a person to know exactly the information directly from the front on a daily basis

Zelensky said.

Recall

Mikhail Drapaty became the new Commander of the ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and Oleg Apostol – deputy commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Ukraine. Both military personnel have successful combat experience and have proven their effectiveness.

Ukraine has received $100 million as part of a loan from South Korea for budget assistance, the first time the country is providing aid to Ukraine's state budget, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Nov. 29.

According to Shmyhal, the funds will be devoted to Ukraine's social sector by supporting budget expenses.

In April of this year, Kyiv and Seoul signed an agreement enabling Ukraine to attract up to $2.1 billion in concessional loans over 2024-2029. The loan has a term of 20 years with an annual interest rate 1.0% and a five-year grace period.

Later in October, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko signed a loan agreement with the Export-Import Bank of Korea to attract the $100 million loan.

Ukraine faces a $35 billion budget deficit in 2025, and with Russia’s war continuing into its third year with no end in sight, the country has to rely on external financing to sustain its economy and war effort.

South Korea has provided Ukraine with humanitarian aid throughout Russia's full-scale war but not with lethal assistance, as the country's legislation prevents direct arms supplies to war zones.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on Nov. 27 visited South Korea and met with the country's President Yoon Suk Yeol as Russian forces make their fastest gains in months and thousands of North Korean troops are stationed in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

Although the South Korean president did not rule out supplying arms to Ukraine, there were no official announcements that Seoul had changed its stance after the visit of the Ukrainian delegation.

Experts told the Kyiv Independent that South Korea could provide the most significant support to Ukraine through ammunition supplies. The country fields not only 155 mm artillery but also stores 3.4 million 105 mm rounds compatible with some of Ukraine's guns.

A South Korean official recently said that direct supplies of 155 mm ammunition are not on the table.

South Korea supplying weapons to Ukraine directly unlikely given legal hurdles, experts saySouth Korea has hinted it could change its long-standing stance on not providing Ukraine directly with weapons in light of the dramatic escalation of North Korea’s role in Russia’s full-scale invasion. So far, Seoul has only provided humanitarian and non-lethal military aid to Kyiv, but on Oct. 22,…The Kyiv IndependentChris York

8 children aged from 6 to 16 years were returned from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Seven children returned with the help of Qatar, one – through the humanitarian corridor.

Another 8 children were returned to Ukraine from the temporarily occupied territories. In particular, a boy was returned, who at the time of the Russian invasion was in a boarding school, whose pupils were taken by the occupation authorities to the city of Skadovsk and the Russian Federation, UNN informs.

"We managed to return 8 Ukrainian children to their homeland. Children from Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Kherson regions and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, who lived under the pressure of the Russian occupation, finally broke free. This was implemented within the framework of the implementation of the approved Action Plan of the president of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA," Lubinets said.

He noted that the Returned Children are from 6 to 16 years old, and some of them have illnesses, so they were met in Ukraine together with ambulances. Among those returned is a boy who at the time of the Russian invasion was in the "Oleshkovsky boarding school", whose pupils were taken by the occupation authorities to the city of Skadovsk and the Russian Federation.

According to him, family circumstances and the lack of prospects for the future of children prompted adults who were young Ukrainians to return to Ukraine.

"I note that 7 children were returned with the involvement of the intermediary country Qatar. Another boy was returned through the humanitarian corridor. But now these children will finally receive decent medical care, embrace their parents and relatives and implement their plans," Lubinets added.

Recall

6-year-old Maria from Donetsk region and 14-year-old Veronika from Kherson region were returned from the temporarily occupied territories. The girls were in danger because of the occupation, but are now safe with their families.