Zelensky Says US Raised Idea of Ukraine Quitting Donbas in Exchange for NATO Membership
Ukraine's president said American negotiators floated a withdrawal from the eastern region at Abu Dhabi talks, adding that any such step would need a full security package and approval in a referendum.
By Amit Ricci ·
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that American negotiators had raised the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing from its eastern Donbas region in exchange for membership in NATO, following the latest round of peace talks with Russia held in Abu Dhabi.
"The Americans raised a question: 'What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?' This was the first time this had been raised," Zelensky told reporters, in remarks released by his office on Saturday.
"That is why I believe NATO is back on the agenda. But you have also heard [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's signals, and this is an extremely difficult conversation."
Zelensky reiterated that Kyiv was not willing to retreat from its territory. He said that if Ukraine received a comprehensive security package, including security guarantees, a strong and well-funded Ukrainian army, and funds to rebuild the country, he would be prepared to put the question to a national referendum.
The Ukrainian leader said any such package would first need to be confirmed by the United States and Ukraine's NATO allies before it could be presented to voters, and he acknowledged that the specifics of such an arrangement did not yet exist, according to the Kyiv Post.
He also ruled out legally recognizing any occupied Ukrainian territory as Russian, and said Putin could not be trusted. Zelensky has reportedly described security guarantees modeled on NATO's Article 5, under which an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all, as the minimum Ukraine would require under any settlement.
The US-mediated talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations took place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday, with American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner attending. Russia's delegation was led by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, while Ukraine's team was headed by Rustem Umerov.
The White House said the discussions had made progress toward a large-scale prisoner exchange, but noted that the two sides remained divided over the questions of territory and postwar security guarantees.
