U.S. floated idea of Ukraine ceding Donbas for NATO membership, Zelenskyy says

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters that the United States has raised the possibility of granting Ukraine NATO membership in exchange for surrendering the eastern Donbas region to Russia. According to Investing.com, U.S. peace envoys asked if Kyiv would consider relinquishing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as part of a broader security arrangement, marking the first time Washington has raised such an exchange during negotiations.

Zelenskyy stated that discussions with Western partners are focused on a comprehensive security package including NATO and European Union guarantees. This framework would involve commitments to maintain Ukraine's military capabilities through sufficient troops, weapons, and financial assistance for a specified period, along with a reconstruction program supported by identified funding sources.

Zelenskyy indicated that he would not make a unilateral presidential commitment regarding territorial concessions. CNBC reports that if Ukraine received security guarantees, the right to a well-funded army, and funds to rebuild, he would put the question to a referendum to consult Ukrainian society.

Brief written by urgent.news from CNBC, Investing.com — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.