Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the only real way for Donald Trump to fulfill his campaign promise to end the conflict with Russia in 24 hours is to accelerate Ukraine's accession to NATO. He said this in an interview with the French TV channel France 2 during a visit to Paris on March 26, 2025. According to the Ukrainian leader, such a step would be the fastest, cheapest and most reliable solution that can guarantee long-term peace, but the United States is not yet ready for such decisive action.

"If America decides to include Ukraine in NATO, this can be considered the fulfillment of Trump's promise in 24 hours. It is in his hands - a simple, non-fragile path to ending the conflict," Zelensky stressed.

He called joining the alliance the best option, which would not only end the conflict but also ensure the country's security without the need for complex multilateral negotiations. However, according to him, Washington has not yet demonstrated readiness for such a step, which remains the main obstacle to the implementation of this idea.

Zelensky's statement came on the eve of the Coalition of the Resolute summit in Paris, where the leaders of 31 NATO and EU countries are discussing options for supporting Ukraine without the participation of the United States. His words became a kind of appeal to Trump, who during the 2024 election campaign repeatedly claimed that he could stop the conflict in one day, although he never presented a specific plan. Zelensky, commenting on this rhetoric, noted that Ukraine's integration into NATO could be the very "miracle" that Trump promised voters, emphasizing that the time for action has come.

The idea of ​​Ukraine joining NATO is not new, but it has gained particular urgency since Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025. In recent months, Kyiv has been actively lobbying for this issue among Western partners. In March, Zelenskyy already discussed membership prospects with the leaders of France and Great Britain, and in February, at the Munich Conference, he called on NATO to speed up the process, citing ongoing Russian attacks. However, the US position remains key: without their consent, the alliance will not be able to accept a new member, given the need for consensus among all participants.

Meanwhile, Trump has pursued a foreign policy since his inauguration, focusing on direct talks with Moscow. According to The Washington Post, he spoke by phone with Vladimir Putin in early March, proposing a temporary ceasefire but without mentioning NATO. The move has angered Kyiv, where there are concerns that an agreement without security guarantees would leave Ukraine vulnerable. Zelensky has responded by increasing pressure on Western leaders, insisting that only alliance membership will ensure stability.

The reaction in the US to Zelensky’s words has been mixed so far. Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz said in an interview with CNN on March 24 that the administration is considering various settlement options, but Ukraine’s accession to NATO is “not on the agenda.” Some Republicans in Congress, including Senator John Cornyn, are also against this idea, believing that such a step would provoke Russia to a new escalation. At the same time, experts at the Brookings Institution note that Ukraine’s membership in NATO could be a compromise that would satisfy both Trump, who wants quick success, and Europe, which seeks long-term stability.