US Proposes Ukraine Cede Territory to Russia for NATO Membership

The United States has for the first time proposed that Ukraine cede territory to Russia in exchange for NATO membership, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russia has rejected a ceasefire proposal. Zelensky stated the US raised the question of Ukraine joining NATO if it withdrew from the Donbas region. He said Ukraine is discussing security guarantees and would put any final decision to a public vote, as he lacks the authority to decide alone. The proposal emerged during US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi involving envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Zelensky dismissed a Putin humanitarian mission offer for Kostyantynivka as a tactic to weaken Ukrainian defenses in Donetsk.