Zelensky rejects neutral status for Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Saturday that Ukraine continues to reject a neutral status, which has been a primary demand from Russia to end the conflict. According to MyJoyOnline Ghana, US negotiators have proposed that Ukraine withdraw its remaining forces from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership. Zelensky noted that this was the first time the question of whether Ukraine would withdraw from Donbas in exchange for joining the alliance had been raised.

RFI English reported that Washington suggested Kyiv cede land to Moscow as part of a potential arrangement for joining NATO, adding that Ukraine's relationship with the Western alliance is back on the agenda. Zelensky said that if he were presented with a proposal including security guarantees, no constraints on the Ukrainian military, and funds for rebuilding the country, he would put such a proposal to a referendum.

The discussions followed meetings in Dublin involving US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who met with Zelensky after a round of talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. While Kyiv has sought NATO membership, the alliance and others have previously opposed the move, and Russia has maintained that having another NATO member on its border is unacceptable.

Brief written by urgent.news from Qatar Tribune, MyJoyOnline Ghana, RFI English — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.