Zelensky says he has ‘cooled down’ on joining NATO.

President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is no longer insisting on joining NATO amid Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

“Regarding NATO, I have cooled down regarding this question long ago after we understood that NATO is not prepared to accept Ukraine,” Zelensky told ABC News in an exclusive interview which aired on Monday. 

“The alliance is afraid of controversial things and confrontation with Russia. I never wanted to be a country which is begging something on its knees. We are not going to be that country, and I don’t want to be that president,” Zelensky added.

Putin has used Ukraine’s pursuit of NATO membership as one of the justifications for invading the country.

Zelensky also said he was open to discussions about the control of two pro-Russian territories that Putin recognized as independent states before invading Ukraine.

Zelensky said Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas region, “have not been recognized by anyone but Russia, these pseudo republics. But we can discuss and find the compromise on how these territories will live on.”

“It is important to me how people who want to be part of Ukraine will live there. I am interested in the opinion of those who see themselves as citizens of the Russian Federation. However, we must discuss this issue,” Zelensky said. 

“The people who elected me are not ready to surrender. We are not ready for ultimatums,” he added. “But we can discuss with Russia the future of Crimea and Donbas.”

According to a senior US defense official about 4,000 Russian troops have died and the army lost about 5% of their vehicles and weapons in Ukraine since the invasion began on Feb. 24.