US has floated Ukraine ceding Donbas for Nato membership, Zelensky says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that US negotiators have proposed Ukraine could potentially cede control of the eastern Donbas region in exchange for joining NATO, though the US has not officially confirmed these remarks. A US official informed the BBC that various ideas are being discussed, but a final agreement must be mutually agreed upon by both countries.

Zelensky's statements emerged following meetings between US envoys and both Ukrainian and Russian leaders. These talks occurred as part of ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict between the two nations. Ukraine has historically aspired to become a member of NATO, however, this ambition has faced opposition from the US and other nations, while Russia has adamantly opposed the idea of another NATO member near its borders.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine commenced in February 2022, and the country currently maintains control over the majority of the industrially significant Donbas region. Zelensky has consistently maintained that Ukraine would not relinquish its sovereign territory. During an interview released by his office, Zelensky commented that he had never previously considered the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO as a condition for withdrawing from Donbas.

When asked about potential proposals from the US, Zelensky suggested that if a specific deal were presented with guarantees for security, no limitations on Ukraine's military capabilities, and sufficient funding for reconstruction, he would consider presenting the terms to the Ukrainian public in a referendum. US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff recently traveled to Dublin to meet with Zelensky, following separate discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.