Zelensky says US floated NATO membership if Ukraine withdraws from Donbas

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that the United States proposed admitting Ukraine to NATO if its forces withdraw from the parts of Donbas they still control, but he insisted Kyiv will not cede territory to Russia. Speaking to journalists in Berlin, Zelensky said the proposal was raised during trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi, marking the first time Washington made such a suggestion. He added that discussions are ongoing with partners on a comprehensive security package, including NATO and EU guarantees, a strong Ukrainian army, and a prosperity plan. Zelensky said he would seek public opinion if the US and NATO formally confirmed the offer, though he stressed he lacks authority to decide unilaterally. He rejected enshrining neutral status in Ukraine's constitution, noting that accepting the option would not imply official recognition of Russian sovereignty over occupied territories.