US suggested Ukraine cede parts of Donbas to Russia to become part of NATO

US negotiators have floated the idea that Ukraine should cede parts of eastern Donbas in exchange for NATO membership, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said, after the latest rounds ⁠of Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi and Ireland. This is the first time the question of linking NATO membership to territorial concessions has been raised, Zelenskyy told reporters in remarks released by his office on Saturday. “The Americans raised a question: ‘What if Ukraine joins NATO?

Would Ukraine withdraw from ⁠Donbas?” he said. “That is why I believe NATO is back on the agenda.” Zelenskyy said the parts of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine the US asked about were areas Russia does not control. The Ukrainian president said he refused to cede territory.

“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s desire to change borders in Europe is a fact. I am sure this is part of his concept of revising security guarantees in Europe,” he said.