Zelenskyy says U.S. proposed Ukraine cede land to Russia for NATO membership

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the U.S. suggested Kyiv cede land to Russia in exchange for NATO membership, marking the first time such a proposal was raised in negotiations. Zelenskyy stated the U.S. asked if Ukraine would withdraw from the Donbas region to join the alliance, adding that NATO is "back on the agenda." U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met separately with Putin and Zelenskyy after talks in Abu Dhabi ended without a breakthrough, while Russia continued deadly strikes in eastern Ukraine. NATO and Washington have not commented directly on Zelenskyy's account. Kushner said "several new ideas" emerged and are being explored, with European countries set to join future talks. Zelenskyy insisted Ukraine would not recognize seized land as Russian, while Russia has long considered Ukrainian NATO membership a red line.