Politics1 min read

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

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

United States negotiators suggested Ukraine could yield parts of the Donbas region to secure NATO accession, marking the first time membership has been explicitly tied to territorial concessions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy clarified that the proposal targets land not currently under Russian control, insisting Ukraine will never officially recognize occupied territories as Russian. Any potential deal would require a national referendum backed by military and reconstruction funding. Meanwhile, European Union leaders gathered in Ireland decided a joint European delegation will hold future coordination talks with American and Ukrainian officials without Russian participation.

Key points

  • Ukraine would only put territorial concessions to a national referendum if partners suppl…: Ukraine would only put territorial concessions to a national referendum if partners supply comprehensive security guarantees and reconstruction funding.
  • Future allied peace consultations will feature a European delegation meeting directly wit…: Future allied peace consultations will feature a European delegation meeting directly with American and Ukrainian officials while excluding Russia.
  • Any diplomatic arrangement accepted by Kyiv would firmly avoid granting official recognit…: Any diplomatic arrangement accepted by Kyiv would firmly avoid granting official recognition to occupied lands as Russian territory.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Zelenskyy rejected the possibility of Ukraine committing to neutrality and said he refused to cede territory to Russia.

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.

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“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.”

Politics