The US floated the idea of Ukraine ceding the eastern Donbas region to Russia in exchange for NATO membership during recent talks, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says.
Zelensky told journalists that US negotiators it was the “first time” such a proposal has been raised: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has long coveted the region, while he has cited possible NATO membership for Ukraine as a reason for launching his full-scale invasion in 2022.
Much of the Donbas is controlled by Russia, although Moscow’s grinding ground offensive in the region has largely stalled.
“The Americans raised a question: ‘What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?’ This was the first time this had been raised,” said Zelensky.
He stressed that Ukraine would not give up territory but if he received a “comprehensive security package” – which would include a strong Ukrainian army and guarantees from NATO – he would put a proposal to the public.
“If the American side confirms precisely this to us, together with other NATO partners, then I will ask our Ukrainian society what it thinks: do we accept it or not? I have no right to make that decision on my own. But we need specifics, and we don’t have them yet.”
US-brokered peace talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday. The trilateral discussions were mediated by Trump administration envoys, and marked the first talks involving both parties in months.
The meetings were described as constructive by both Zelensky and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, although they ended without any major breakthrough.
