US Proposes Ukraine Cede Territory for NATO Membership — Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has disclosed that the United States proposed the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing its troops from parts of the eastern Donbas region in exchange for membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Zelensky made the revelation while speaking to journalists on Friday, November 13, 2026, following two days of US-brokered peace negotiations involving Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

According to the Ukrainian leader, American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner raised the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing from Donbas if the country were admitted into NATO.

He described it as the first time Washington had directly raised the proposal during discussions aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“The Americans raised a question: What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas? This was the first time this had been raised,” Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president, however, reiterated that Kyiv was not prepared to surrender its territory or recognise areas occupied by Russia as Russian territory.

He explained that Ukraine would only consider discussing such an arrangement if it came with comprehensive security guarantees from NATO and the European Union, adequate military support and funding for the country’s reconstruction.

Zelensky also stressed that he would not make such a significant decision independently, saying he would present any confirmed proposal to the Ukrainian public for consideration.

“If the American side confirms precisely this to us, together with other NATO partners, then I will ask our Ukrainian society what it thinks: do we accept it or not?” he said.

The Donbas region, comprising Donetsk and Luhansk, has been at the centre of Russia’s military campaign in eastern Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly demanded control over the entire region, while Ukrainian forces continue to hold parts of it.

The latest proposal emerged amid renewed diplomatic efforts involving Washington, Moscow and Kyiv to negotiate an end to the conflict.

The Abu Dhabi discussions also addressed possible ceasefire arrangements, prisoner exchanges and broader security guarantees.

Meanwhile, Russia has maintained its territorial demands and opposed Ukraine’s proposed NATO membership.

The United States, NATO and the Russian government had not publicly confirmed an agreement involving Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbas in exchange for membership of the military alliance as of Saturday.

The reported proposal therefore remains a subject of diplomatic discussion rather than an agreed peace settlement.