Zelensky says US asked whether Ukraine would leave Donbas if it joins NATO

In brief

• Zelensky said the US asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from Donbas if it joined NATO.
• He said Kyiv is preparing a broader security package with partners for possible talks.
• Trilateral talks involving Ukraine, the US and Russia were recently held in Abu Dhabi.

US question on Donbas and NATO

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the United States had posed a question to Kyiv: if Ukraine joined NATO, would it withdraw from Donbas? He made the remarks to reporters on Friday, and Ukrainian media quoted him on Saturday. (Wołodymyr Zełenski: USA zaproponowały Ukrainie członkostwo w NATO. Jest warunek – tvn24.pl) (USA mają ofertę dla Ukrainy ws. członkostwa w NATO. Zełenski odkrył karty – msn.com) (Nietypowa propozycja USA dla Ukrainy. "Takie coś pojawia się po raz pierwszy" – Interia Wydarzenia)

Zelensky stressed that Ukraine does not withdraw from its territory or hand it over to what he called terrorists. He said such a proposal had come up for the first time, which in his view puts the question of NATO back on the agenda. (Zełenski ogłasza amerykańską propozycję dla Ukrainy. Tego jeszcze nie było – Dziennik.pl) (Wołodymyr Zełenski o przełomowej propozycji USA dla Ukrainy. "Za wycofanie się z Donbasu" – Onet)

He also pointed to signals coming from Moscow, without giving details in the reports available to us. (Ukraina w NATO? Zełenski ujawnił propozycję USA – Wirtualna Polska)

Security package under discussion

Zelensky said Ukraine is working with partners on a comprehensive security package that could be offered during talks. According to him, the package would include NATO and European Union security commitments, a Ukrainian army with defined troop numbers, weapons and financial support for a set period, and a reconstruction plan backed by funds from clearly identified sources. (Zełenski ogłasza, co USA zaproponowały Ukrainie. „Po raz pierwszy” – RMF24) (NATO za Donbas. Zełenski ujawnił propozycję Amerykanów – Polsat News)

As of his remarks, he said no specific written offer had been made on guarantees.

Context

Trilateral talks involving Ukraine, the US and Russia were held recently in Abu Dhabi. The discussions concern ending a war that has lasted several years.

In a related move, Zelensky asked European leaders to name a representative who would take part in the next round of peace talks with Moscow.