US Proposed Ukraine Cede Donbas to Russia, Zelensky Says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that US negotiators proposed Ukraine cede its remaining territory in the Donbas region to Russia in exchange for NATO membership, a first-time offer he said he would consider. Zelensky stated he would submit the proposal to a referendum if it included security guarantees, freedom to maintain Ukraine's army, and reconstruction resources. The proposal followed US envoy visits to Moscow and a European Union summit in Dublin, though Russia's demands for territory and neutrality still exceed what Ukraine will accept. Russia occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine, including most of Donetsk and Luhansk provinces. Zelensky has previously insisted on recovering all Russian-controlled territory, including Crimea, and rejected limits on Ukraine's military size, while tensions with Washington have risen over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities.