Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the United States raised the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing from the Donbas region in exchange for membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
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Zelensky said the proposal marked the first time the issue had been raised in that form during discussions aimed at ending the war.
“The Americans raised a question: ‘What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?’ This was the first time this had been raised,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader said any decision involving territorial concessions could not be taken by him alone and would require the consent of Ukrainians.
“I will ask our Ukrainian society what it thinks: do we accept it or not? I have no right to make that decision on my own,” Zelensky said.
He also said any such arrangement would depend on credible security guarantees capable of preventing another Russian invasion.
“That is why I believe NATO is back on the agenda. But you have also heard Putin’s signals, and this is an extremely difficult conversation,” he said.
Zelensky maintained that Ukraine was not prepared to surrender its territory but said the question could be put before Ukrainians if a comprehensive security package was secured.
He also disclosed that Russia had rejected Ukraine’s proposal for a ceasefire covering energy infrastructure.
“On the proposal for an energy ceasefire: the Russians don’t want it,” he said.
Zelensky further accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of attempting to use a proposed humanitarian mission to Kostiantynivka as a means of forcing Ukrainian troops to withdraw from the city.
“Putin simply wants us to leave Kostiantynivka so that they can move in and occupy the entire city that way,” he said.
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