Donbas in Exchange for NATO: Zelensky Reveals Unexpected Proposal from the U.S.

The U.S. proposed that Ukraine consider the possibility of leaving Donbas in exchange for its admission to NATO. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, American representatives raised the issue in this form for the first time. This was reported by the LETA agency, citing AFP. Zelensky spoke about the proposal to journalists on Friday, but his statements were allowed to be published only on Saturday. As the Ukrainian president explained, the American side inquired whether Kyiv would agree to leave Donbas if Ukraine were to receive membership in the North Atlantic Alliance in return. Zelensky particularly noted that such an option had not been proposed to him before. At the same time, Ukraine continues negotiations with NATO and the European Union regarding specific security guarantees. This concerns the commitments of Western partners that should define the conditions for ensuring the country's security. The president stated that if such guarantees are agreed upon with Western countries, he intends to address the Ukrainian society to find out whether it is ready to accept the proposed conditions. "I do not have the right to make such a decision alone," Zelensky emphasized. Thus, even if agreements are reached with Western partners, the question of their acceptance, according to the president, must be discussed with the citizens of Ukraine. Zelensky also commented on the future of European security. In his opinion, the EU and NATO remain the only reliable guarantees of security for Europe. At the same time, the Ukrainian leader warned against negotiations with Russia on creating a new security architecture on the continent. He believes that such discussions could lead to new wars. For now, it is about a proposal made during negotiations, not a reached agreement. Specific conditions for possible agreements and further decisions have not been announced.