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

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.