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US proposed Ukraine cedes Donbas in exchange for joining NATO, Zelenskyy says

Zelenskyy said the proposal would go to voters if Western partners confirm security guarantees, a strong army and reconstruction funding.

  • On Friday, Nov. 13, President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists that United States representatives asked whether Ukraine would withdraw military forces from Donbas in exchange for NATO admission.
  • The inquiry emerged during the latest diplomatic round, following US-mediated trilateral talks held in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10-11 between Ukraine, Russia, and American officials.
  • Zelensky emphasized Ukraine will not recognize occupied territories as Russian, stating any comprehensive package involving NATO membership and security guarantees would require submission to a public referendum.
  • Separately, White House Says White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly announced on Friday that US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have begun preparing the largest prisoner exchange of the war.
  • While acknowledging potential security models similar to those with Israel or Arab states, Zelensky expressed caution regarding NATO reliability, noting the collective defense clause has been invoked only one time in history.
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Ukrainian leaders revealed that the United States had made its first offer: that Ukraine cede the Donbas Islands region in exchange for NATO membership, while Russia rejected a ceasefire targeting energy resources.

While Washington is exploring new avenues on the war negotiations table in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has unveiled the content of his discussions with the Ukraine...

Center

Zelensky opens the door to a referendum, but demands security guarantees and funds to rebuild the country

Center

The president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, has assured that the US negotiators have put on the table the option of admitting Ukraine to NATO in exchange for the country giving up the Donbas and handing it over to Russia. "The Americans have raised the question that Ukraine would withdraw from the Donbas if it joined NATO. It's the first time they say so," Zelenski said to the media.The Ukrainian leader has raised that he would submit the issu…

·Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
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IBTimes broke the news in New York, United States on Saturday, November 14, 2026.
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