US floated Ukraine ceding Donbas for NATO membership, Zelenskyy says

Summarised from 13 outlets · 15 reports · Updated 15 Nov, 05:08 · Archive

US negotiators have asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

US negotiators asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership, according to remarks by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday. Zelenskyy said this was raised for the first time during discussions following peace talks in Abu Dhabi involving the US, Ukraine and Russia earlier this week. US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow before travelling to Dublin to meet Zelenskyy on Thursday.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was discussing 'specific security guarantees from NATO and the EU' as part of broader negotiations. He stated that if the US and NATO partners confirmed a comprehensive package including adequate military funding, weapons, financial support for reconstruction and a recovery plan with clear funding, he would put the question to the Ukrainian public in a referendum. 'I have no right to make that decision on my own,' he said.

The Ukrainian president reiterated that Ukraine would not cede territory to Russia. He said any agreement would come without recognising occupied territories as Russian. Zelenskyy also warned about Moscow's broader aims, stating that Putin's desire to change borders in Europe and revise European security guarantees was dangerous and could lead to escalation and further wars.

Zelenskyy said NATO membership had been off the table in previous discussions but now appeared back on the agenda. He noted the EU had agreed that several European diplomats, including representatives from Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Poland, would take part in future peace negotiations.

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova suggested the Donbas proposal was not discussed during talks with US envoys in Moscow. However, Russian President Putin's previous statements indicate Moscow continues to demand territorial concessions, limits on Ukraine's military size and guarantees of Ukrainian neutrality as conditions for any peace settlement.

Zelenskyy said he believed Moscow was interested in reopening broader questions about European security rather than focusing exclusively on ending the nearly five-year war. He stressed that real security in Europe meant strengthening NATO and the EU, not negotiating with Russia over the continent's security architecture.

How it is being reported

• Ukraine war briefing: US proposes Kyiv cede land to Russia for Nato membership, Zelenskyy saysUkrainian president says Kyiv not ready to concede Donbas but would put idea to a referendum in exchange for security guarantees and funding. What we know on day 1,726 Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the US has asked for the first time if Ukraine would withdraw from parts of the eastern Donbas region that Russia does not control in exchange for Ukraine becoming a Nato member . But the Ukrainian president said his country would not surrender territory. “The Americans raised a question: ‘What if Ukraine joins Nato? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?’,” he said in remarks to reporters released by…The Guardian · 15 Nov, 03:38
• U.S. floated idea of Ukraine ceding Donbas for NATO membershipThis is the first time the question of linking NATO membership to territorial concessions has been raised during the talks.The Japan Times · 14 Nov, 23:34
• Zelensky reveals glimpse at Ukraine’s Nato membership – but it comes with a catchAccording to the Ukrainian leader, US officials dangled the the opportunity to join Nato for the first time since the war beganThe i Paper · 14 Nov, 17:01
• US suggested Ukraine cede parts of Donbas to Russia to become part of NATOZelenskyy rejected the possibility of Ukraine committing to neutrality and said he refused to cede territory to Russia.Al Jazeera · 14 Nov, 16:53
• US floats NATO membership for Ukraine in exchange for giving up Donbas territoryThe US has floated the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO in exchange for surrendering its remaining territory in the war-ravaged Donbas region to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “The Americans raised the question: ‘What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?’ This was the first time this issue had been raised."New York Post · 14 Nov, 16:46
• Zelensky refuses to concede Donbas as he warns US security plan could empower PutinVolodymyr Zelensky says the US has raised the idea of a new postwar security framework for EuropeIndependent World · 14 Nov, 14:33
• US asks if Ukraine would give up parts of Donbas for NATO membership, Zelenskyy saysThe US has asked for the first time whether Ukraine would withdraw from parts of the Donbas region if Kyiv were admitted to NATO, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday.Sky News · 14 Nov, 13:12
• US said Ukraine could give Donbas to Russia in exchange for joining Nato, Zelensky claims as peace talks end with no breakthroughUkraine's president's comments on Saturday - in which he also said Russia has rejected an energy ceasefire - come as efforts to end the war continued during peace talks this week.Daily Mail · 14 Nov, 12:41
• Three killed in Russia as Ukraine claims US floated NATO membership optionZelenskyy says the US asked for the first time whether Kyiv would cede land to Moscow in exchange for the NATO bid.Al Jazeera · 14 Nov, 11:43
• US floats Nato membership for Donbas withdrawal deal, Zelenskyy saysPresident says he will take proposal to Ukrainian people as Washington explores terms for ending warFinancial Times · 14 Nov, 11:41
• Ukraine: Zelenskyy says security deal could go to referendumThe US has broached the idea of Kyiv giving up the Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership, the Ukrainian president said.DW News · 14 Nov, 11:40
• Zelenskyy says a new European security framework floated by US could benefit PutinUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the U.S. has raised the idea of a new postwar security framework for EuropeIndependent World · 14 Nov, 11:21
• US suggested Ukraine could give up Donbas for NATO membership, Zelenskyy says"This was the first time this had been raised," the Ukrainian president told reporters.Politico Europe · 14 Nov, 10:48
• US floats Ukraine ceding land to Russia in exchange for NATO membership: ZelenskyyPutin has indicated that Russia will not back down on territorial demands to control parts of Ukraine and has rejected the idea of foreign peacekeeping troops being deployed in the country.Euronews · 14 Nov, 10:35
• US has floated Ukraine ceding Donbas for Nato membership, Zelensky saysThe Ukrainian president says US envoys touted the exchange as part of efforts to end the war with Russia.BBC News · 14 Nov, 10:30

In this story: Volodymyr Zelenskyy · Steve Witkoff · Jared Kushner · Vladimir Putin · Ukraine · Donbas · Russia · NATO

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