US floats idea of Ukraine ceding Donbas for NATO club

Detailed summary

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he will put territorial concessions to a national referendum if Ukraine gets broad guarantees in a bid to end the war.

US negotiators ‌have floated the idea of Ukraine's withdrawal from its eastern region of Donbas in exchange for joining NATO, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says, following the latest round of peace talks with Russia in Abu ‌Dhabi.

This is the first time the question of linking NATO membership to territorial concessions has been raised during the talks, Zelenskiy said in remarks to reporters released by his office on Saturday.

"The Americans raised a ‌question: 'What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?" he said.

"That is why I believe NATO is back on the agenda. But you have also heard (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's signals, and this is an extremely difficult conversation."

Putin has long said Ukrainian membership of NATO is a red line for Moscow, citing the issue as one reason for launching Russia's full-blown invasion in 2022.

Zelenskiy said Kyiv was not ready to concede territory but said that if it received a comprehensive package including security guarantees, the right to a strong and well-funded Ukrainian army and funds to rebuild, he ‌would put the question to ‌a national referendum.

Echoing comments made by European leaders at a summit in Dublin on Friday, Zelenskiy dismissed Russia's call for a ​broad agreement on European security architecture to be reached before the specifics are agreed on how to end the war in Ukraine.

"We cannot turn everything upside down and start by talking about changing the security framework in the world or across the continent overall, and only then talk about ending this war. This war must be ended first," he said.

US President Donald Trump's envoy Jared Kushner said the two sides had set out "maximalist positions" in the talks but in private discussions both "understand that practical compromises will be necessary to end this war".

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