Ukraine: Zelenskyy says security deal could go to referendum
The US has broached the idea of Kyiv giving up the Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership, the Ukrainian president said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on Friday that the United States had proposed the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO in exchange for relinquishing control of the eastern Donbas region. This concept was brought up for the first time during a meeting with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Dublin. The Donbas region, located in Ukraine's eastern part, borders Russia—land that Moscow annexed in 2022 following its full-scale invasion.
The majority of the region is now under the control of Russian forces. The idea of ceding Donbas has been a part of past proposals by the U.S. under the Trump administration, including a 28-point peace agreement plan in 2025. Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently insisted that Ukraine cease its NATO aspirations and maintain strict limits on its military.
Zelenskyy firmly stated that Ukraine would not retreat or cede any land to "terrorists." He mentioned that discussions are ongoing regarding a comprehensive security package that would encompass specific NATO and EU guarantees, bolstered Ukrainian military capabilities, financial support, and a recovery plan, all of which require concrete details.
The president emphasized that any decision would require the approval of Ukrainian society, as he cannot make it alone.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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