Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the United States has suggested that Ukraine could be offered membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in exchange for withdrawing from the Donbas, according to media reports.
"The Americans raised the question: 'If Ukraine joins NATO, would it withdraw from the Donbas?' This was the first time such a question had been raised," Zelensky told reporters in remarks released by his office on Saturday.
Zelensky has reaffirmed that Ukraine will not retreat or give up its territory. He said Ukraine was discussing a comprehensive security package with its partners that could be offered during peace negotiations.
The package includes specific security guarantees from NATO and the European Union, a strong army with a sufficient number of personnel and weapons, financial support for a specified period and a recovery plan backed by funding from clearly defined sources, Zelensky added.
Trilateral talks involving Russia, the United States and Ukraine just ended on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, with no agreement announced on a ceasefire, territorial disputes or long-term security guarantees.
On Thursday, U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said in a social media post that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to expand the next round to include European partners. He said this would allow discussions on broader post-war European security arrangements alongside territorial issues.
Zelensky says U.S. proposes Ukraine to withdraw from Donbas in exchange for NATO membership
