Ukraine Warupdated 19m ago2 min read
Archive photo · 21 July 2019Zelenskyy Says US Linked NATO Membership to Ukraine Withdrawing From Donbas
11 Western Mainstream5 West Asian3 Other4 Other source typesPhoto: Mykola Lazarenko / Presidential Office of Ukraine, CC BY 4.0 · Cropped for layout
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US negotiators floated Ukraine joining NATO in exchange for Donbas withdrawal. Zelensky says the proposal was raised for the first time in Abu Dhabi talks.
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Donbas Linked to NATO
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said US negotiators raised the question of whether Ukraine would withdraw from Donbas if it joined NATO, calling it “The Americans raised a question: 'What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?'”.
Zelenskyy said he was not ready to concede territory, but he added that if Ukraine received a “comprehensive security package” including security guarantees, the right to a strong and well-funded Ukrainian army, and funds to rebuild, he would put the issue to a national referendum.
Zelenskyy also said he dismissed Russia’s call for a broad agreement on European security architecture before the specifics of how to end the war, saying “This war must be ended first.”
Zelenskyy said US-brokered talks between Ukraine and Russia concluded in the Emirati capital without a major breakthrough, and he said the sides agreed to a prisoner exchange involving more than 1,000 people.
Zelenskyy said US peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had pledged to raise an energy ceasefire with Putin, but he said there was no news of any progress after their talks.
Kyiv weighs a referendum
Zelenskyy told journalists that the US proposal was the “first time” such a question had been raised, and he said he would ask Ukrainians whether to accept the potential exchange if a security package was offered. Zelenskyy said he was discussing a “security package” that included security guarantees from NATO and the European Union, an “adequate number of troops, weapons” and financial support. Zelenskyy said he was “not sure it would necessarily work,” and he said he needed more specific details on the potential membership.
Zelenskyy said he had “no right to make that decision on my own,” and he framed the proposal as a question for the public rather than a decision he could unilaterally take. Zelenskyy said Russia’s position on the war had not changed, and he said Moscow’s demands for territory and neutrality far exceeded what Ukraine was prepared to consider.
What is at stake next
Zelenskyy said the US proposal would bring NATO membership “back on the agenda” through an “extremely difficult” conversation between Ukraine and Russia about the future of European security. Zelenskyy said he warned that the idea of linking NATO membership to territorial concessions was “dangerous,” because it could lead to wars or escalations. Zelenskyy said he reiterated that Kyiv was not ready to concede territory, but he said he would put the question to a national referendum if he received a comprehensive package including security guarantees, the right to a strong and well-funded Ukrainian army, and funds to rebuild.
Zelenskyy said he rejected Russia’s suggestion of a local humanitarian ceasefire in Kostiantynivka, saying “Putin simply wants us to leave Kostiantynivka so that they can move in and occupy the entire city that way.” Zelenskyy said Ukraine had given a list of seven or eight other frontline settlements where civilians, including children, were trapped for a potential humanitarian truce, and he said Russia preferred to use them as military targets.