US proposed Ukraine cedes Donbas in exchange for joining NATO, Zelensky says

President Zelensky said the US had proposed ceding Ukraine's eastern city of Donbas to Russia, in exchange for Ukrainian membership of NATO, following the latest round of peace talks in Abu Dhabi this week. He reiterated that Kyiv was not willing to retreat from its territory and warned that the Kremlin's bid to change the continent's security architecture could lead to more wars.

American special envoys Steve Witkoff (right) and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump (left), with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin, November 12, 2026. © Peter Morrison, AP Photo

Ukraine 's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the United States proposed Ukraine cede land to Russia in exchange for joining NATO and that his government was in talks on "specific" security guarantees from the West.

He said that US negotiators had floated a question about Ukraine's potential withdrawal from its eastern region of Donbas in exchange for ‌joining the alliance, following the ⁠latest round of peace talks with Russia in ‌Abu Dhabi .

Zelensky reiterated his position that ⁠Kyiv was not willing to retreat from its territory. He said that if Ukraine received a ‌comprehensive security package, that includes security guarantees, a strong and well-funded Ukrainian ‌army and funds to rebuild, he would put the question to a referendum.

本文の著作権はFrance 24にあります。