Zelensky says US proposed Ukraine cede Donbas region for NATO membership
US negotiators proposed that Ukraine withdraw from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that United States negotiators floated the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing its remaining forces from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership, according to reporting by Yahoo News, Punch Newspapers, and the BBC.
The disclosures follow high-level diplomatic missions by American envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. According to Hngn, the envoys traveled to Moscow for a two-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, before flying to meet Ukrainian leadership during a summit of European leaders at a military air base outside Dublin.
Media additions
Zelensky stated that American officials asked directly whether Ukraine would pull out of the Donbas if alliance admission was granted, marking the first time the idea was presented during negotiations. He emphasized that any such proposition would require robust security guarantees, no military constraints, and reconstruction funding before he would submit the choice to a public referendum. Ceding the remaining pockets of Donetsk and Luhansk under Ukrainian control carries immense symbolic weight, formally acknowledging Russian claims over territory Moscow’s forces have fought to capture since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Observers note that while US officials previously maintained that alliance membership was entirely off the table, the recent proposals have brought the military alliance back onto the negotiating table. However, fundamental disagreements remain between the warring parties.
During their Kremlin meeting, Putin reiterated that any further expansion of the alliance remains unacceptable to Moscow, while demanding full territorial control over regions Russia claims to have annexed. Russian representatives also rejected Ukrainian proposals for an energy infrastructure ceasefire during the Abu Dhabi negotiations, with Zelensky accusing Putin of using a proposed humanitarian mission to Kostiantynivka as a pretext to force Ukrainian troops to withdraw. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded control of the parts of Ukraine that Russia claims to have annexed and ruled out foreign peacekeeping troops, warning that the war would resume immediately.
The diplomatic engagements have yielded some humanitarian agreements despite the vast gulf over territorial sovereignty. Negotiators reached an agreement in principle on a massive prisoner exchange, projected to involve over one thousand captives on each side, though final figures and execution dates remain under discussion. At the same time, military activity across the front lines has intensified, with heavy drone and missile strikes targeting critical energy infrastructure and population centers.
| Negotiation Track / Event | Key Participants | Primary Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Trilateral Sessions | US Envoys, Russian and Ukrainian Delegations | Agreement in principle on a large-scale prisoner exchange; no breakthrough on territorial concessions. |
| Moscow Kremlin Talks | Vladimir Putin, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff | Putin agreed in principle to allow European representatives to join subsequent rounds of talks. |
| Dublin Consultation | Volodymyr Zelensky, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff | US envoys briefed Ukrainian leadership on Moscow talks; alliance membership and Donbas proposals raised. |
What to Watch Next
- Finalization of the prisoner exchange numbers and implementation timeline by military officials in Moscow and Kyiv.
- Decisions by European capitals regarding which leaders will represent the continent at the upcoming multilateral peace talks.
- Further announcements from US mediators regarding the specific dates and venues for the next round of negotiations.
