Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said U.S. negotiators raised whether Ukraine might withdraw from Donbas in exchange for NATO membership, a proposal Kyiv has not accepted and that he said would require Ukrainians’ approval.
He described the idea as a question raised during recent peace discussions, not a settled agreement. He said it was the first time the two issues had been linked in talks. The remarks followed U.S.-mediated negotiations involving Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi, which ended without a major breakthrough.
Zelenskyy again said Ukraine would not simply retreat from its territory. He said he could put a possible arrangement to a national vote, but only if the United States and other NATO partners first confirmed a comprehensive package. He said the package would include security guarantees, support for a strong Ukrainian military, and funding for reconstruction.
He also ruled out legally recognizing occupied Ukrainian territory as Russian. He stressed that details of any security guarantees remained under discussion. The question puts NATO membership back on the diplomatic agenda.
Moscow has long opposed Ukraine joining the alliance. Zelenskyy also warned that wider talks about Europe’s security arrangements should not take the place of efforts to end the war.