Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said U.S. representatives asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from Donbas in exchange for NATO membership. (Foto: Instagram)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said U.S. representatives raised the possibility of Ukraine relinquishing territory in exchange for joining NATO. He spoke after meeting with U.S. special envoys in Dublin as part of efforts to negotiate an end to the war.
Zelensky told reporters Saturday, Nov. 14, that the Americans asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from Donbas if it joined NATO. He said this was the first time the idea had been raised in negotiations.
The talks ended without an agreement. Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine was not prepared to give up territory, despite pressure from Russia.
He also said the U.S. representatives floated the idea of creating a security framework for Europe, which he described as dangerous. Zelensky said Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to change Europe’s borders and that he was certain this was part of Putin’s plan to revise the continent’s security guarantees. Such moves, Zelensky said, could lead to wars or an escalation of conflicts.
