Zelenskyy: US floated land-for-Nato deal in talks on ending Ukraine war
KYIV: Washington suggested Kyiv cede land to Moscow in exchange for joining Nato, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in comments released Saturday, saying his country’s relationship with the Western alliance is “back on the agenda.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that the United States had proposed a land-for-NATO deal to Kyiv during recent talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The suggestion, made by US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, involved Kyiv ceding territory to Russia in exchange for joining NATO. Zelenskyy stated that this was the first time the topic had been raised during discussions with the Americans.
He emphasized that after receiving enhanced defense support and strengthening their army, Ukraine could not be left without proper defense. Zelenskyy noted that the conversation highlighted NATO's resurgence on Ukraine's agenda. Meanwhile, Russia continued its bombardment, targeting cities like Pavlohrad and a village near Zaporizhzhia, which is approaching the front line.
Zelenskyy mentioned that Kyiv was discussing security guarantees with Western partners and that Ukrainians would ultimately decide on any potential deal. He affirmed that Ukraine would not recognize any territory seized by Russian forces as Russian. Russia has consistently warned that Kyiv joining NATO is a red line and has launched its invasion in 2022, claiming the West intends to incorporate Ukraine into the alliance.
Despite these claims, the Kremlin has ruled out foreign peacekeeping troops and broader ceasefires. However, Putin proposed a "humanitarian" mission to the eastern town of Kostyantynivka, which Russia seized in the summer but where Kyiv maintains ongoing fighting. Zelenskyy dismissed the offer as an attempt to expand Russian gains in Donetsk.
The next steps involve securing a cessation of hostilities in Donbas. Russia has attempted to shift the focus of peace talks from Ukraine's immediate situation to broader security arrangements in Europe. This approach mirrors a 2021 Russian ultimatum to the West to withdraw NATO troops from Eastern Europe. In response, Europe has chosen five countries—France, Germany, Italy, the UK, and Poland—to represent them in future deliberations on ending the war.
European leaders have expressed skepticism about the Kremlin's proposal for a new security architecture, emphasizing that discussions of such matters should occur only after the war concludes.
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