US links Ukraine land concession to NATO membership

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed that US negotiators have suggested Ukraine could withdraw from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership. According to ABC News AU, SABC News, and KahawaTungu, this is the first time the possibility of linking NATO membership to territorial concessions has been raised during peace discussions. The Daily Times also noted the suggestion concerns Ukraine's control over the eastern Donbas.

Zelenskyy stated that while Kyiv is not currently ready to concede territory, he would put the matter to a national referendum if a comprehensive package were offered. New Voice of Ukraine reports that this package would include concrete security guarantees from NATO and the EU, a well-funded and well-equipped army, and reconstruction funds.

Zelenskyy added that the United States is offering guarantees similar to Articles 4 and 5 of the NATO treaty, though Washington has stated that American troops would not be present on Ukrainian soil.

The proposal follows recent diplomatic efforts, including visits to Moscow and an EU summit in Dublin. KahawaTungu reports that US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Zelenskyy in Dublin after holding talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. While Zelenskyy noted that NATO is back on the agenda, he acknowledged the difficulty of the conversation given that Putin has long maintained Ukrainian NATO membership is a red line for Russia.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Times, ABC News AU, KahawaTungu, New Voice of Ukraine, SABC News — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.