US Envoys Suggest NATO Membership for Ukrainian Withdrawal From Donbas

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that United States negotiators had asked whether Ukraine would withdraw its forces from the Donbas region in exchange for membership in NATO.

The question was raised by American envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff following diplomatic meetings in Moscow, Dublin and Abu Dhabi.

Kyiv has long sought NATO membership as a security guarantee against future attacks, while Russia has maintained that another alliance member on its border is unacceptable.

“The Americans raised a question: ‘What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?’ This was the first time this had been raised,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy said that if Western allies provided confirmed security guarantees, he would submit the proposal to a national referendum.

“I will ask our Ukrainian society what it thinks: do we accept it or not?” Zelenskyy said. “I have no right to make that decision on my own.”

During talks in Abu Dhabi, Russian representatives rejected a proposed ceasefire on energy infrastructure ahead of the winter season.

“On the proposal for an energy ceasefire: the Russians don’t want it,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Moscow was betting everything on its winter campaign.

Zelenskyy also dismissed a Russian proposal for a humanitarian mission to Kostiantynivka, calling it an attempt to force Ukrainian forces to abandon the town in the Donetsk region.

The American negotiators informed Zelenskyy that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to include European representatives in future peace talks, according to reports by Reuters and The Hindu.

Zelenskyy said he asked European allies to select their representatives by the end of November so Europe has a direct voice in future agreements.

Following visits to Denmark and Ireland, Zelenskyy announced a 645 million euro defense package and a 20 million euro energy assistance package from Denmark.

The defense package includes support for 800,000 rounds of ammunition for Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets, which intercept Russian drones and cruise missiles.

Kyiv is also seeking the full restoration of high-speed capabilities for the US-operated Starshield satellite system, which remains restricted along the front line.