US proposes Ukraine cede Donbas for NATO membership, Zelensky says

US negotiators suggested Ukraine could withdraw from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed Saturday following peace talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi. Zelensky said this was the first time NATO accession was linked to territorial concessions. Zelensky reiterated Kyiv is not prepared to cede territory, but said he would submit the question to a national referendum if a comprehensive package included security guarantees, a strong Ukrainian army, and reconstruction funds. He rejected Russia's call to address European security architecture before ending the war, stating "this war has to end first." Zelensky also dismissed Putin's proposal for a localized humanitarian ceasefire in Kostiantynivka, calling it a Russian ploy to occupy the city. The two-day talks ended Wednesday without significant progress, though parties agreed to a prisoner exchange involving over 1,000 people.