US Proposal: Ukraine Could Trade Donbas for NATO Membership

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that the United States has for the first time raised the possibility of Ukraine ceding the Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership during peace talks. Zelenskyy stated that American officials asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from Donbas if it joined NATO, marking the first time this question was posed. He noted this suggests NATO membership is back on the negotiating agenda, though he described the discussions as extremely difficult. Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine will not surrender territories it controls, but he would hold a referendum on the matter if offered comprehensive security guarantees, a strong military, and reconstruction funding. The latest talks occurred in Abu Dhabi, led by US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.