# Zelensky says US raised Donbas withdrawal in exchange for Nato membership

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/us-has-floated-ukraine-ceding-donbas-for-nato-membership-zelensky-says/
- Published: 2026-11-14T20:41:45+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-14T21:17:36+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC World (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwvg2l312ylqo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Americas, Europe, Geopolitics, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Zelensky says US negotiators raised a Donbas-for-Nato idea.
- He would put a full proposal to a referendum.
- Russia occupies roughly a fifth of Ukraine.

## Summary

Volodymyr Zelensky says US negotiators raised the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing its remaining forces from Donbas in exchange for Nato membership. The idea would link a major territorial concession to Ukraine’s long-sought security guarantee, but it is unclear whether Washington is actually proposing membership.

Zelensky said he would put a specific offer to a referendum if it included security guarantees, no limits on Ukraine’s military and funding for reconstruction. Russia occupies about a fifth of Ukraine, including most of Donetsk and Luhansk, and has demanded further territory, military limits and Ukrainian neutrality in any peace deal. Kyiv rejects those terms, while Nato membership remains opposed by Moscow and is viewed as unrealistic by some in Ukraine.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.