US Floated Donbas Withdrawal for NATO Membership
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says US negotiators raised the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing from Donbas to secure NATO membership during recent peace talks. While territorial concessions remain unaccepted, officials agreed to a large prisoner exchange involving over 1,000 people.
United States negotiators have floated the idea of Ukraine ceding the eastern Donbas region in exchange for joining NATO, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday. The proposal surfaced during peace talks with Russia in the United Arab Emirates and marks the first time territorial concessions have been directly linked to alliance membership. Zelenskiy stated he would put any comprehensive security package to a national referendum if it includes army funding and reconstruction grants.
