A Ukrainian withdrawal from Donbass in exchange for Nato membership. This is the scenario that, according to Volodymyr Zelensky, the United States put to him during talks on Ukraine’s future.
The president discussed the matter with journalists in Kyiv, according to reports from Agence France-Presse and Ukrinform.
“The Americans asked me: ‘What if Ukraine joined Nato, would it withdraw from Donbass?'” Zelensky said, reiterating that Ukraine has no intention of surrendering or ceding its territory.
At the heart of the discussions with partners is a comprehensive package of security guarantees: a path to Nato and EU membership, a strong Ukrainian army, weapons, financial support, and a reconstruction plan with clearly defined funding and financing sources.
Should concrete commitments materialize and be confirmed by the United States and other allies, Zelensky explained that he would put the matter to the Ukrainian public.
“I don’t have the right to decide this on my own,” he said, calling for details on the guarantees partners would be willing to offer.
