Zelensky Says US Raised Territory-for-NATO Trade-Off
Also reported by Al Jazeera, BBC World, France24
Summary
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said U.S. negotiators asked whether Ukraine would withdraw troops from parts of the Donbas in exchange for NATO membership. He said no concrete proposal exists and that Ukraine would not recognize Russian sovereignty over occupied territory or commit to neutrality.Key Facts
- Zelensky said American negotiators raised the possible Donbas-for-NATO arrangement for the first time.
- The territory in question is in the Donbas area that Ukrainian forces still control.
- Zelensky said any troop withdrawal would not mean Ukraine recognized Russian sovereignty over the territory.
- He said Ukraine would not commit to neutrality, which he said would require a constitutional change.
- Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. officials held trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi earlier that week.
- Zelensky said Ukraine is discussing security guarantees, military weapons and funding, and postwar reconstruction support.
- He said any formal proposal would be put to Ukrainian society for a decision.
- A November 10 statement backed security guarantees for Ukraine and said NATO would remain central to Euro-Atlantic defense, but did not endorse Ukraine’s membership.
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