# Zelenskyy Says US Offered NATO Membership In Exchange For Giving Up Donbas To Russia

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/zelenskyy-says-us-offered-nato-membership-in-exchange-for-giving-up-donbas-to-russia/
- Published: 2026-11-15T17:02:35+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-15T18:50:06+00:00
- Original publisher: The Daily Caller (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://dailycaller.com/2026/11/15/zelensky-us-putin-nato-membership-donbas-withdrawal
- Topics: Americas, Europe, Geopolitics, Politics, World

## Key points

- Zelenskyy says the US linked NATO membership to Ukraine leaving the Donbas.
- Kyiv rejects simply surrendering territory.
- Five European governments are expected at the next talks.

## Summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says US officials raised the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO in exchange for withdrawing from the Donbas. The proposal would link a security guarantee sought by Kyiv to giving up territory, a trade-off Zelenskyy says has not previously been raised in negotiations.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine would not simply surrender its land and would put an agreement to a referendum only if it included firm security guarantees, a well-funded army and reconstruction funding. Russia controls about 80% of Donetsk and nearly all of Luhansk, but has not captured either region in full; Kyiv seeks to freeze fighting along the current front line. US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi produced other ideas, and Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland are expected to take part in the next round.

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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.