Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the United States has proposed a plan for Ukraine to withdraw its remaining forces from the eastern Donbas region in return for Nato membership. The comment came after President Donald Trump’s envoys met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky as part of Washington’s effort to end the war in 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 in remarks released by his office on Saturday. He added that if a proposal included security guarantees, no constraints on Ukraine’s military, and funds to rebuild the country, he would put it to a referendum.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff travelled to Dublin to meet Zelensky after a round of talks with Putin in Moscow. Kremlin officials have signalled that Russia’s demands for territory and neutrality remain unchanged, and Moscow has revived 2021 demands that Nato halt any expansion near Russia and roll back military infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe.
Russia currently occupies roughly a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including most of Donetsk and Luhansk. Ceding the small portions still controlled by Ukraine would be symbolically significant for Kyiv, which has long sought to regain all of its sovereign land.
While the US proposal has reignited discussions about Nato’s role, Zelensky cautioned that the conversation remains extremely difficult, noting that Russia will not agree to cease fighting until a final peace deal is reached that includes territorial settlements and security arrangements.
Ukraine remains under martial law, but Zelensky has said he would be willing to hold elections within months of a peace deal and would give up the presidency in exchange for Nato membership.
