The proposed arrangement suggests that Western accession talks have returned to the diplomatic agenda despite previously being considered off the table by officials. Under the framework, Kyiv would pull its military out of the remaining parts of Donetsk and Luhansk that it still controls. This move would carry immense symbolic weight by effectively acknowledging Russian control over the broader Donbas region. Meanwhile, Moscow has consistently rejected an expanded Western alliance along its borders and demands strict caps on Kyiv's forces.
Key points
Western diplomats are actively exploring whether formal NATO membership can be leveraged…: Western diplomats are actively exploring whether formal NATO membership can be leveraged against significant Ukrainian territorial concessions.
Moscow remains a major obstacle to the plan due to its long-standing demands for Ukrainia…: Moscow remains a major obstacle to the plan due to its long-standing demands for Ukrainian neutrality and caps on Kyiv's military size.
Giving up Ukrainian-held territory in Donetsk and Luhansk would represent a massive symbo…: Giving up Ukrainian-held territory in Donetsk and Luhansk would represent a massive symbolic concession regarding sovereign borders.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
- Published
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.
The Ukrainian president's comments on Saturday come after US envoys visited Moscow and an EU summit in Dublin as part of ongoing efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Kyiv has long sought membership of the military alliance as a condition of any peace deal to deter future threats, while Russia has said another Nato member on its border was unacceptable.
Zelensky has also consistently said Ukraine was unwilling to give up sovereign territory, despite Moscow's demands for it to cede the Donbas.
"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.
He went on to say that if he received a proposal that contained security guarantees, no constraints on Ukraine's military and funds to rebuild the country, he would put it to a referendum.
The unannounced schedule shift from December to February follows President Salva Kiir's September dissolution of the transitional government, which removed crucial census and constitutional prerequisites. The United Nations and analysts fear dismantling the power-sharing arrangement will trigger severe violence as clashes escalate between government forces and loyalists of detained former Vice President Riek Machar.
Security personnel cordoned off the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar helipad near Lalit Mahal after an Indian Air Force aircraft experienced mechanical issues during scheduled departures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his entourage proceeded with their travel itinerary to Gujarat without disruption by utilizing the two operational choppers from the convoy. Authorities have not yet disclosed the specific mechanical failure or a timeline for the grounded aircraft's clearance.
Kyiv is weighing severe territorial trade-offs as international mediators push forward high-stakes peace discussions ahead of winter. Diplomatic progress remains stalled by Moscow's refusal to halt attacks on critical power grids, forcing Ukrainian leadership to seek immediate defense and energy assistance from European allies. These developments highlight the escalating tension between Ukraine's strategic sovereignty goals and mounting operational pressures along the front lines.