Zelenskyy: US proposes NATO membership in exchange for Donbas withdrawal for the first time
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that during negotiations, the American side asked Ukraine whether it would be willing to withdraw troops from the Ukrainian-controlled part of Donbas in exchange for NATO membership.
Source: Interfax-Ukraine, citing Zelenskyy's statement to journalists, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Zelenskyy said that the Americans raised the question for the first time of whether Ukraine would leave Donbas if it were in NATO.
Quote: "I have repeatedly said: Ukraine does not retreat and does not give its land to terrorists. The Americans asked the question: 'What if Ukraine joins NATO – would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?' This happened for the first time. We are discussing with partners a comprehensive security package that could be offered to us during negotiations: concrete security guarantees from NATO and the EU, a strong Ukrainian army – meaning an appropriate number of troops, weapons and financial support for a defined period – and a Prosperity Plan, that is, a recovery plan backed by funds from clear sources."
Details: According to Zelenskyy, if the American side confirms this together with other NATO counterparts, he will then ask Ukrainians for their opinion. "Do we accept or do we not accept? I have no right not to do this at my own discretion. However, specifics are needed, which do not exist yet, and all of this is under discussion," said Zelenskyy, as quoted by Ukrinform.
Background:
- On 11 November, Zelenskyy said that the US is trying to find different ways of modifying proposals to resolve the territorial issue in Donbas.
- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had privately told his Western counterparts that he is uncertain whether the war in Ukraine can be ended through negotiations or whether Kyiv will be able to join NATO in the near future.
- Rubio also warned that Russia's capture of the entire Donbas would not satisfy the Kremlin's territorial ambitions.
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