US negotiators have suggested the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing its remaining forces from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The comments follow meetings between US President Donald Trump’s envoys and both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky as part of ongoing efforts to end the conflict.
US Envoys and Diplomatic Talks
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff travelled to Dublin, Ireland, to meet Zelensky following a round of discussions with Putin in Moscow. Zelensky stated that the American side specifically asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from Donbas if it were to join NATO, marking the first time the proposition had been raised.
Zelensky noted that any proposal involving security guarantees, rebuilding funds, and no military restrictions would be put to a national referendum. While he remarked that the discussions made him feel NATO was back on the agenda, he cautioned that negotiations remain extremely difficult given Putin’s signals.
Territorial Demands and Peace Conditions
Russia currently controls approximately a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including the majority of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that comprise Donbas. Ceding the remaining parts under Ukrainian control would carry major symbolic weight, as Zelensky has previously expressed a desire to reclaim Russian-occupied regions and Crimea.
Moscow continues to demand territorial concessions, strict limits on the size of the Ukrainian military, and guaranteed neutrality. Furthermore, Russia has revived 2021 demands for NATO to halt expansion near its borders and roll back military infrastructure in central and eastern Europe. Kyiv has consistently rejected such limits, arguing they would leave the country vulnerable to future invasions, while Russia insists it will not halt fighting until a final peace settlement is achieved.
