Zelensky says US raised Donbas withdrawal for NATO membership

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that American negotiators raised the idea of Ukraine withdrawing from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership, during recent peace talks with Russia. He made the comments to journalists after meeting US envoys in Dublin, according to his office.

“The Americans raised a question: What if Ukraine joined NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas? It was the first time this issue was raised,” Zelensky said, as reported by Reuters. He reiterated that Kyiv is not willing to give up its sovereign territory.

However, he added that if Ukraine received a comprehensive security package – including security guarantees, a strong and well-funded army, and funds for reconstruction – he would submit the matter to a national referendum.

The United States has not confirmed Zelensky’s account. A US official told the BBC that “many ideas continue to be discussed, but any final agreement will have to be accepted by both sides.”

Zelensky also stressed that NATO and the EU represent the only real security for Europe, and described Kremlin attempts to reshape the continent’s security architecture as dangerous and potentially leading to new wars.

Meanwhile, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Russian President Vladimir Putin would continue discussions with US President Donald Trump at a meeting next week in China. Ushakov said Russia is ready to begin talks with the United States on European security proposals.

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have been shuttling between Moscow and Kyiv in recent weeks as part of efforts to end the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.