Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has disclosed that American envoys recently raised the prospect of Ukraine ceding the Donbas region in exchange for membership in Nato. According to remarks released by his office on Saturday, this marked the first time such a proposal had been formally presented during ongoing efforts to resolve the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The discussion occurred following a series of meetings between US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The envoys subsequently traveled to the Irish capital, Dublin, on Thursday to meet with Zelensky. In what appeared to be a reproach directed at Kyiv, Kushner referred to "private discussions" aimed at exploring new ideas about ending what he called a "horrible war," expressing hope that these concepts might lead to new proposals or breakthroughs.
Zelensky stated that if he received a specific proposal containing security guarantees, no constraints on Ukraine's military, and funds to rebuild the country, he would be prepared to put the offer to a national referendum. However, Ukraine has consistently rejected such constraints, arguing that they would hamper its ability to stave off any future invasion. The Kremlin has also remained fiercely opposed to Nato, which was a primary reason for the full-scale invasion launched in February 2022. Ukraine maintains that Russia's ambitions are far greater and continues to view Nato as its only sure protection.
Currently, Russia occupies roughly a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including most of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that compose the Donbas. Zelensky suggested that the idea is now "back on the agenda" as part of an "extremely difficult conversation" on European security. He noted that the move may also serve as a response to Russia’s renewed hardline stance, as Moscow now discusses a "new European security architecture," which is long-standing Russian code for a weaker Nato. Zelensky noted that "maximalist" proposals had been reported from the negotiations, alongside "strong political rhetoric."
Amid these diplomatic maneuvers, tensions have persisted. Zelensky accused US officials of limiting Ukraine's Starlink internet service, which is used to coordinate defensive operations. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has called for fresh elections, stating it is "time for Ukraine to get a new president."
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