US proposal on Ukraine's NATO bid implicitly rejects Russian demands, ISW says

The United States has for the first time proposed Ukraine's NATO membership in exchange for withdrawing troops from Donbas, a move analysts say implicitly rejects Russia's key demands. Moscow continues to insist Ukraine never join any defense alliance. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said the proposal signals Washington's disagreement with Kremlin demands to halt NATO expansion and reform European security architecture. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the offer on November 14, suggesting a referendum if confirmed. Russia has reportedly expanded its ultimatums, including demands that France and Britain refrain from using nuclear weapons to defend other European states. Moscow also seeks to prevent Western military activity in former Soviet states, reflecting Putin's goal of dismantling NATO and restoring Russian influence.