US Floats Donbas Retreat in Exchange for Nato Membership, Says Zelensky

UPDATE - follow-up to US has floated Ukraine ceding Donbas for Nato membership, Zelensky says: US negotiators have suggested that Ukraine pull its remaining troops out of the eastern Donbas area in exchange for joining Nato, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Meetings and Envoys

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff travelled to Dublin on Thursday to meet Zelensky after holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Zelensky stated that the US mediators raised the question of a Donbas withdrawal for the first time during these discussions. He added that if he gets a clear proposal with security guarantees, no limits on the military, and funds to rebuild, he would put it to a vote in a referendum.

US and Russian Responses

The US has not officially confirmed Zelensky's remarks. A US official told the BBC that many ideas continue to be discussed and any final deal must be agreed upon by both parties. Hours after Zelensky's comments, Jared Kushner urged confidentiality in the sensitive process and criticized the public reporting of maximalist proposals and strong political rhetoric. Meanwhile, Russian positions remain unchanged, with Moscow continuing to demand territorial concessions, limits on Ukraine's military size, and guaranteed neutrality.

Context

This follows an earlier report, covered earlier on 15 Nov 2026: 'US has floated Ukraine ceding Donbas for Nato membership, Zelensky says'. Territorial disputes over the eastern Donbas region and the Crimean peninsula have been central to the conflict since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ukraine has long sought membership in the military alliance as protection against future invasions, while Russia fiercely opposes any expansion of the alliance near its borders.