Zelensky: America proposed the idea of Ukraine ceding the Donbass region to Russia in exchange for NATO membership.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that the United States had raised the idea of ​​Ukraine ceding the eastern Donbas region to Russia in exchange for NATO membership, during recent talks.

Zelensky told reporters that it was the "first time" that American negotiators had raised something like this.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has long sought to control this region, while using Ukraine's potential membership in NATO as a pretext for launching his large-scale invasion in 2022.

Large parts of the Donbas region are currently under Russian control, although the Russian ground offensive there has largely stopped.

“The Americans asked a question: What if Ukraine joins NATO? Will Ukraine withdraw from Donbass? This was the first time this issue was raised,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky stressed that Ukraine would not give up its territory, but indicated that if he received a "comprehensive security package" - which includes a strong Ukrainian army and guarantees from NATO - he would present the proposal to his people.

He added: "If the American side confirms this to us specifically, in cooperation with other NATO partners, I will ask the Ukrainian community for its opinion: Does it accept this or not? I do not have the right to make a decision like this on my own. But we need specific details, and we do not have these details yet."

Peace talks were held between Ukraine and Russia, with American mediation, in Abu Dhabi, last Tuesday and Wednesday. Two envoys from the Trump administration mediated the trilateral discussions, which were the first talks in which both parties participated in months.

Both Zelensky and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the meetings as “constructive,” although they ended without achieving any major breakthrough.