Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says US negotiators raised the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing its remaining forces from the Donbas in exchange for NATO membership. He described it as the first time the idea had been put to him, but the reported exchange was a question, not an announced agreement.
Zelensky made the comments on Saturday, November 14, after US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met him in Dublin. The envoys had travelled to Moscow the previous day for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. BBC reporting carried Zelensky’s account of the discussion.
He said he would put a proposal to a referendum if it included security guarantees, no restrictions on Ukraine’s military and funding to rebuild the country. No concrete proposal has been reported, according to Interfax-Ukraine.
Territory and security remain central obstacles
Ukraine has sought NATO membership as a safeguard against future threats, while Russia has opposed the alliance expanding to include Ukraine. Moscow has also demanded territorial concessions and Ukrainian neutrality. Kyiv has rejected those conditions, arguing that limits on its armed forces would weaken its ability to defend itself.
Russia occupies roughly a fifth of Ukraine, including most of Donetsk and Luhansk, the two regions that make up the Donbas. Ukraine still controls some territory in the region. Giving up those areas would be symbolically significant for Kyiv, as it could be seen as accepting Russian control of the Donbas.
Zelensky said the US question put NATO membership back on the agenda, while warning that negotiations remained difficult given Putin’s stated position. US officials had previously said Ukrainian membership of the alliance was not under consideration.
Reid Bentley