Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said US negotiators raised the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing from the Donbas in exchange for NATO membership, calling it the first time the question had been raised. A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said that, as far as her department was aware, the issue was not discussed during talks with US envoys in Moscow.
Zelensky's comments came after US envoys visited Moscow and an EU summit in Dublin, as part of ongoing efforts to end Russia's war on Ukraine. Zelensky told reporters on Saturday, "The Americans raised a question: 'What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?' This was the first time this had been raised."
He added that Ukraine was discussing "specific security guarantees" from NATO and the European Union and said he would put the terms to a referendum if Western nations confirmed them. "I have no right to make that decision on my own," Zelensky said.
US special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Zelensky in Dublin on Thursday after a round of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow the day before. The trio announced that Europe would have a 'voice' in peace negotiations. Kushner wrote on X that this would allow them to address the broader postwar European security arrangements alongside the territorial issues between Ukraine and Russia.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that as far as her department was aware, "the issue was not discussed during the talks with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow." Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov added that Europeans "must decide whether they want peace or the continuation of the war."
Putin has signalled Russia will not soften its territorial demands and has rejected the idea of foreign peacekeeping troops being deployed in Ukraine, according to reports from this week's Moscow meetings. Russia currently occupies roughly a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including most of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up the Donbas. Ceding the remaining Ukrainian-held areas there would be a small practical concession but symbolically significant for Kyiv, as Zelensky has consistently said Ukraine was unwilling to give up sovereign territory.
US officials had previously said Ukrainian NATO membership was off the table. Zelensky said the US proposal made him believe "Nato is back on the agenda," and described the conversation as extremely difficult after referring to Putin's signals.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The proposal marks a potential turning point in US policy, offering Ukraine NATO security guarantees in exchange for territorial concessions, a trade-off Kyiv has previously ruled out.
- Russia's swift denial of the discussion shows deep divisions over the negotiating agenda and may signal Moscow's unwillingness to accept compromises that leave Ukraine tied to the alliance.
- The outcome could reshape European security architecture, either by bringing Ukraine under NATO's umbrella or by reinforcing a precedent of territorial concessions for peace.
Background
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and now occupies about a fifth of the country, including most of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions (the Donbas). Ukraine has long sought NATO membership as a security guarantee against future aggression, while Russia has demanded Ukraine's neutrality and territorial concessions. The Trump administration initially took Ukrainian NATO membership off the table, but this week's diplomatic exchanges, including US envoys shuttling between Moscow and Kyiv, suggest the issue is being revisited.
Key Perspectives
Volodymyr Zelensky: says the US raised the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing from the Donbas in exchange for NATO membership, the first time this has been proposed; he would put any final deal to a referendum.
Jared Kushner (US envoy): announced that Europe will have a "voice" in peace negotiations moving forward, framing it as part of broader postwar European security arrangements.
Maria Zakharova (Russian foreign ministry): denied that the land-for-NATO issue was discussed during the US envoys' meetings in Moscow.
Yuri Ushakov (Russian presidential aide): accused European countries of trying to insert themselves into negotiations and said they must decide whether they want peace or continued war.
Vladimir Putin: has signalled no retreat on territorial demands and rejected foreign peacekeeping troops in Ukraine.
What to Watch
- Whether the US administration confirms or clarifies Zelensky's account of the proposal in the coming days.
- The question of European participation: Russia has resisted European involvement, but Kushner's statement suggests Washington is pushing for it.
- Any sign of a Ukrainian referendum on a potential peace deal, as Zelensky has indicated he would call one if Western security guarantees are secured.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedZelensky said the Americans asked, “What if Ukraine joins Nato? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?” and that it was the first time the question had been raised.BBC News: ““The Americans raised a question: 'What if Ukraine joins Nato? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?' This was the first time this had been raised,” Zelensky told reporters on Saturday.”
- SupportedUS negotiators raised the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing from the Donbas in exchange for NATO membership.BBC News: “US negotiators have touted the idea of Ukraine withdrawing its remaining forces from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for Nato membership, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.”
- Partly supportedA Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said the issue was not discussed during the Moscow talks.Euronews: “saying that as far as her department was aware, “the issue was not discussed during the talks with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow.””
- SupportedZelensky said he would put the terms to a referendum if Western nations confirmed them.Euronews: “Zelenskyy added that Ukraine was discussing “specific security guarantees” from NATO and the European Union and that he would ask Ukrainians if they accepted the terms should Western nations confirm.”
- Partly supportedThe summary attributes the statement that Europe would have a “voice” in peace talks to Kushner.Euronews: “the trio announcing that, moving forward, Europe would have a “voice” in peace negotiations.”
- SupportedZakharova said, “the issue was not discussed during the talks with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow.”Euronews: “saying that as far as her department was aware, “the issue was not discussed during the talks with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow.””
- SupportedKushner wrote, “This will allow us to address the broader postwar European security arrangements alongside the territorial issues between Ukraine and Russia.”Euronews: ““This will allow us to address the broader postwar European security arrangements alongside the territorial issues between Ukraine and Russia,” Kushner wrote in a post on X.”
- SupportedUshakov said Europeans “must decide whether they want peace or the continuation of the war.”Euronews: ““They are striving by every means possible to join the negotiations, but, as our President has said, they must decide whether they want peace or the continuation of the war,” he said.”
- Reports differZelensky told reporters on Saturday.Euronews: ““This was the first time this had been raised,” Zelenskyy told reporters on Friday in comments embargoed until Saturday, the AFP news agency reported.”
- SupportedThe US envoys met Zelensky in Dublin on Thursday after meeting Putin in Moscow the day before.BBC News: “US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff travelled to the Irish capital on Thursday to meet Zelensky, after a round of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow the day prior.”
- SupportedPutin signalled Russia would not soften its territorial demands and rejected foreign peacekeeping troops in Ukraine.Euronews: “Putin signalled that Russia would not back down on territorial demands to control parts of Ukraine and rejected the idea of foreign peacekeeping troops being deployed in the country.”
- SupportedRussia occupies roughly a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including most of Donetsk and Luhansk.BBC News: “Russia currently occupies roughly a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including most of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that compose the Donbas.”