Zelensky rejects neutrality and reveals an American proposal: abandoning Donbass in exchange for NATO membership

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky affirmed his country's adherence to rejecting the "neutral status" demanded by Russia as one of the conditions for ending the war, revealing at the same time an American proposal put forward during recent talks stipulating the possibility of Kiev abandoning the Donbass region in exchange for joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Zelensky said, in statements to reporters in his office in Kiev yesterday evening, Friday, which were allowed to be published today, Saturday (November 14, 2026), that including neutrality in the Ukrainian constitution “will not happen,” stressing his refusal to make any constitutional amendment that would establish this situation.

The demand for neutrality is one of the most prominent conditions put forward by the Kremlin as part of any settlement of the war that has been going on for more than four years.

The Ukrainian president revealed that US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff raised for the first time a question about Ukraine's willingness to give up Donbass to Russia in exchange for NATO membership.

“This is the first time this matter has been raised,” Zelensky said, explaining that Kiev is discussing with its partners a wide range of security guarantees that could form the basis of any future agreement.

According to the Ukrainian president, the proposed package includes security guarantees from NATO and the European Union, building a strong Ukrainian army equipped with a sufficient number of soldiers, weapons and financing, in addition to a reconstruction program funded from specific sources.

He stressed that if he receives an official offer in this format, he will raise the matter for discussion within Ukrainian society, saying: “I have no right to make this decision on my own.”

On the other hand, the Kremlin continues to demand a complete Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donbass region, which includes the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and is one of the most prominent axes of conflict between the two parties.

Zelensky's statements came after a round of Ukrainian-Russian talks hosted by Abu Dhabi under American sponsorship. Although the meetings did not result in decisive progress towards ending the war, they did lead to an agreement on the necessity of involving the Europeans in any future negotiations.

US envoys Witkoff and Kushner also met with officials in Moscow and Kiev following those talks, as part of Washington's efforts to advance the negotiating process.

Zelensky warned of Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to reformulate the security structure in Europe, considering that this could lead to further escalation and conflicts. He stressed that "actual security in Europe" is based on the European Union and NATO, rejecting any alternative security arrangements outside these two frameworks.

Zelensky also described Putin's proposal to send a "humanitarian mission" to the disputed city of Kostyantinivka as a "stunt", aimed at pushing Ukrainian forces to withdraw and opening the way for the advance of Russian forces in Donbass.

In a related context, the Ukrainian president said that Russia is “betting everything on the winter campaign,” noting that Moscow is counting on achieving military gains during the cold months.