US negotiators have floated the idea of Ukraine withdrawing from its eastern region of Donbas in exchange for joining NATO, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.
The proposal is the first time that territorial concessions have been explicitly linked to military alliance membership during peace talks, according to remarks released by the Ukrainian leader's office on Saturday. The discussions followed a round of negotiations held in the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi and subsequent meetings in Dublin.
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“The Americans raised a question: ‘What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?’,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters. “That is why I believe NATO is back on the agenda.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has long maintained that Ukrainian NATO membership is a red line for Moscow, citing the prospect as a primary justification for the full-scale invasion launched in February 2022. While Washington has not officially confirmed the specific details of the territorial trade-off, a US official told the BBC that while various ideas remain under discussion, any ultimate settlement must be agreed upon by both parties.
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Zelenskyy Proposes National Referendum on Security Guarantees
Zelenskyy rejected the possibility of ceding sovereign land outright, but said that any comprehensive postwar package involving security guarantees, a strong military, and reconstruction funds would be put to a national referendum.
“[I]f the American side confirms precisely this to us, together with other NATO partners, then I will ask our Ukrainian society what it thinks, do we accept it or not? I have no right to make that decision on my own,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president emphasized that the EU and NATO represent the only viable security architecture for Europe. He cautioned that attempts by Moscow to reshape continental borders risk triggering further escalation and wider conflict.
Following trilateral diplomatic contacts, US envoy Jared Kushner urged confidentiality regarding the sensitive negotiations. He described the process as an exploration of new ideas intended to end the conflict, noting that various maximalist proposals had circulated during the talks.
Delegates Agree on Prisoner Exchange During Abu Dhabi Talks
The recent two-day diplomatic push concluded in Abu Dhabi without a comprehensive breakthrough, though delegates agreed on a prisoner exchange involving more than 1,000 people. Final numbers for the swap remain under discussion.
Meanwhile, European leaders meeting at an informal EU Council summit in Dublin agreed that the bloc will be represented at upcoming peace negotiations by the E5 group—comprising Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland—alongside EU institutions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that sustaining financial support and maintaining pressure on Moscow remain essential.
“The best way to get Russia to the table is to keep up our support for Ukraine and to keep maximum pressure on Russia,” Ursula von der Leyen said.
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