US floats Ukraine ceding land to Russia in exchange for NATO membership: Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that the United States had proposed Ukraine cede territory to Russia in exchange for NATO membership during ongoing efforts to end the war. This suggestion was presented to Zelenskyy by Washington as a potential means of bringing stability to the region. Zelenskyy revealed this information to reporters on Friday, with the details embargoed until the following day.

He emphasized that Ukraine was engaged in discussions about obtaining specific security assurances from NATO and the European Union, and that the Ukrainian people would be consulted if Western nations endorsed the proposal. Zelenskyy clarified that he did not have the authority to decide on this matter alone. The proposal arose following a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow.

During this meeting, Putin indicated that Russia would not relent on its territorial claims over parts of Ukraine and firmly rejected the notion of foreign peacekeeping forces being present in the country. In response, the US envoys met with Zelenskyy in Ireland on Thursday to continue diplomatic negotiations. In a subsequent statement on X, Kushner announced that Europe would have a say in future peace talks, addressing both territorial disputes and broader postwar European security concerns.

However, the Russian foreign ministry swiftly dismissed the possibility of such an agreement, stating that they were unaware of any such discussions during their talks with Witkoff and Kushner. The ministry's spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, emphasized that the Europeans were actively seeking inclusion in the peace negotiations, but ultimately, the decision rested with Ukraine to choose between peace or the continuation of the conflict.