US proposed Donbas swap for NATO membership - Zelensky

US proposed ceding Ukraine territory for NATO membership - Zelensky

Updated / Saturday, 14 Nov 2026 10:51

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the United States proposed Ukraine cede land to Russia in exchange for joining NATO and that his government was in talks on "specific" security guarantees from the west.

"The Americans raised a question: 'What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?' This was the first time this had been raised," Mr Zelensky told reporters.

He said Ukraine was discussing "specific security guarantees from NATO and the EU" and that if western countries confirmed them "then 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".

Mr Zelensky said the EU and NATO are Europe's only "real security", warning the Kremlin's bid to change the continent's security architecture could lead to more wars.

"This is dangerous because, in my view, it is precisely things like this that lead to wars or escalations," Mr Zelensky said.

"Real security in Europe means the EU and NATO. That's it. There is no other security in Europe."

Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky said Russia is "betting everything" on this winter's war campaign as he called for a US military package that would pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the fighting.

"They are betting everything on this winter," Mr Zelensky said. He said the US Congress adopting "sanctions and weapons" legislation would be "the kind of motivation Putin needs" to de-escalate.

Mr Zelensky's comments come as EU leaders agreed that Europe would be represented by the E5 - Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland - and the bloc's institutions at the next Ukraine peace talks.

Peace talks have so far only involved Russian, Ukrainian and US officials, who met in Abu Dhabi this week for the first time in nine months.

European involvement in the peace talks would mark a new phase in efforts to end the nearly five-year-old conflict, which has defied attempts by US President Donald Trump to secure a peace agreement.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the "path to peace" in Ukraine will not be easy.

Speaking at the conclusion of the informal meeting of the EU Council in Dublin yesterday, she said: "The best way to get Russia to the table is to keep up our support for Ukraine and to keep maximum pressure on Russia.

"This is why we will soon propose our 22nd package of sanctions, and before the next European Council, the commission will come forward with a proposal to close the financing gap in Ukraine for 2027.

"Let me be clear, the path to peace will not be easy but we will remain united - as we've been over the last five years - in our support for Ukraine and with the end goal clear in our minds."