Ukraine's Nato bid back on table, but at what cost? Zelenskyy on US Donbas question

Ukraine's long-standing ambition to join Nato has resurfaced in peace negotiations with Russia, but a potentially difficult question now hangs over Kyiv's bid. Would Ukraine be willing to give up the Donbas in return for membership of the military alliance? US negotiators have raised the question, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, signalling that territorial concessions and security guarantees could become central to efforts to end the war.

In a series of statements to reporters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he believed Nato membership was "back on the agenda", revealing that US negotiators had asked whether Ukraine was prepared to surrender the Donbas in exchange for joining the alliance, Reuters reported. Zelenskyy's remarks come amid renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war, with Washington seeking to bring Moscow and Kyiv closer to a possible settlement.

He said US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had told him that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to have European representatives participate in the next round of peace talks. The Ukrainian president said he had asked European allies to decide by the end of November who would represent the continent at the negotiating table. Kyiv wants Europe to have a direct say in any agreement that could determine Ukraine's territorial future and long-term security arrangements.

However, prospects for even a limited ceasefire remain uncertain. Zelenskyy said Russia was unwilling to agree to an energy ceasefire and that its delegation did not have the mandate to discuss the proposal during talks in Abu Dhabi. Zelenskyy also flagged continued restrictions on the US-operated Starshield satellite system, saying its high-speed capabilities had still not been restored despite being needed for Ukrainian military operations along the front line and in Russian-occupied areas.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy is seeking to strengthen Ukraine's military capabilities through fresh European assistance, with Kyiv discussing the supply of 800,000 rounds of ammunition for its F-16 fighter jets with Denmark to meet the aircraft's requirements for six months, Reuters reported. The discussions come as Ukraine seeks to sustain its fleet of Western-supplied fighter jets amid continued Russian aerial attacks. The F-16s play an important role in protecting Ukrainian airspace, intercepting Russian drones and cruise missiles, and countering aerial threats. Securing a steady supply of ammunition is therefore crucial to maintaining their operational effectiveness.

In a post on X following his visits to Denmark and Ireland, Zelenskyy announced a new €645 million defence package and a separate €20 million energy assistance package from Denmark. The defence package includes support for F-16 ammunition, attack drones, Ukrainian interceptor drones and contributions to the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme. Zelenskyy said Ukraine had also discussed with its European partners ways to strengthen air defence and support its energy sector and railway network ahead of winter. The discussions focused on securing assistance to protect critical infrastructure and help the country withstand further Russian attacks.