Zelenksyy says U.S. floated exchanging Ukrainian territory for NATO membership
Question raised by U.S. negotiators
Zelenskyy said U.S. negotiators asked him to consider giving up part of Ukraine in return for NATO membership. He described the question as a first in discussions. He said he did not have the right to decide alone whether Ukraine should withdraw from Donbas. The account did not specify whether he meant a referendum.
Russia’s demands over Donbas
After elections in occupied parts of Donbas that most of the world dismissed as a sham, Putin declared in September 2022 that four eastern Ukrainian regions had been annexed. The United States and United Nations have not recognized the annexations, which most countries regard as illegal landgrabs.
Zelenskyy seeks more detail
Zelenskyy said he was not sure the proposed arrangement would work. He said he needed more specific information about potential NATO membership. The report also noted that more than 600,000 people in Ukraine were left without power after strikes, according to authorities.
Key points
- Zelenskyy said U.S. negotiators asked about leaving Donbas in exchange for NATO membership.
- He said the question had not been raised before and he could not decide alone.
- Putin has demanded Ukraine withdraw from Donbas as a condition for peace.
- Zelenskyy said he needed more details and was unsure the proposal would work.