US suggested Ukraine could give up Donbas for NATO membership, Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on Friday that the U.S. suggested Ukraine could join NATO in exchange for withdrawing from its eastern Donbas region as part of negotiations to end the war.
The Donbas region in Ukraine's far east borders Russia, and Moscow declared it had annexed the region in 2022 after its full-scale invasion. The vast majority of the region is currently occupied by Russian troops.
Previous proposals
Giving up Donbas has long been part of proposals put forward by President Trump's administration, including the 28-part peace agreement plan proposed by the White House in 2025. Russian President Putin has previously demanded Ukraine abandon NATO aspirations and accept military size limits.
Zelenskyy's response
I have said repeatedly: Ukraine is not retreating and is not giving up its land to terrorists, Zelenskyy told reporters. The Ukrainian president emphasized he would not make decisions alone, stating: I have no right to make that decision on my own.
I have said repeatedly: Ukraine is not retreating and is not giving up its land to terrorists.
Security guarantees
Zelenskyy said he was discussing a comprehensive security package with partners that would include specific guarantees from NATO and the EU, a strong Ukrainian army with adequate troops, weapons and financial support, and a recovery plan with clear funding. But we need specifics, and we don't have them yet, he added.
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