Zelensky reveals glimpse at Ukraine’s Nato membership – but it comes with a catch

Résumé détaillé

According to the Ukrainian leader, US officials dangled the the opportunity to join Nato for the first time since the war began ...

The United States has proposed Ukraine cede the eastern Donbas region to Russia in exchange for Nato membership, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

The Russian controlled territory has been annexed since Vladimir Putin invaded in 2014.

Russia currently occupies roughly a fifth of Ukraine, including most of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that compose the Donbas in the east of the country.

US-brokered peace talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday and were mediated by the US.

The talks ended without a major breakthrough, though the sides agreed to a prisoner exchange that will involve more than 1,000 people, Zelensky said.

This is the first time the question of linking Nato membership to territorial concessions has been raised during the talks, Zelensky said in remarks to reporters on Saturday.

He added: “The Americans raised a question: ‘What if Ukraine joins Nato? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?’ This was the first time this had been raised.”

Despite previous opposition to any suggestion of giving up the region, he did confirm that if they received a “comprehensive security package” that includes a strong Ukrainian army and guarantees from Nato, he would allow the Ukrainian public to decide in a referendum.

US officials had previously indicated Nato membership was off the table, but Zelensky warned: “You have also heard Putin’s signals, and this is an extremely difficult conversation.”

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