US suggested Ukraine cede parts of Donbas to Russia to become part of NATO

US negotiators have proposed linking Ukraine’s possible NATO membership to it ceding parts of the eastern Donbas to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He said this was the first time the issue had been raised in the talks, and rejected giving up territory, warning that changing borders could increase the risk of war or escalation.

Zelenskyy said the areas discussed are not controlled by Russia. He would put the proposal to a national referendum only if it came with security guarantees, military and reconstruction funding, and a recovery plan from the US and other partners; he said this would not mean recognising occupied territory as Russian. He also ruled out committing Ukraine to neutrality. Meanwhile, both countries reported overnight attacks, and European leaders agreed that Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland, alongside EU officials, would represent Europe in talks with the US and Ukraine.