USA asks Ukraine about Donbas withdrawal
United States negotiators asked Ukraine whether it would withdraw troops from Donbas in exchange for NATO membership, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The question was raised during recent talks aimed at ending the war, as reported by Seznam Zprávy.
Kyiv has previously insisted it will not surrender its own territory. Zelenskyy said that any such proposal would require an open dialogue and a public vote, according to Echo24.
"Američané položili otázku: ‘A když Ukrajina vstoupí do NATO, odejde z Donbasu?’ To se stalo poprvé," said Volodymyr Zelenskyj, ukrajinský prezident.cz.
Complex security guarantees under discussion
Ukraine is negotiating a comprehensive security package with its international partners. The framework includes commitments from NATO and the European Union, a well-armed military, and funded reconstruction, Novinky reported.
Zelenskyj emphasized that Ukraine will not legally recognize Russian-occupied territories as part of Russia under any circumstances. Full NATO membership, backed by Article 5 guarantees, remains the baseline for any peace agreement, Novinky noted.
Diplomatic meetings in Abu Dhabi and Moscow
The discussions followed a round of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi mediated by the United States, alongside consultations in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Seznam Zprávy reported.
"Když Putin mluví o státních hranicích, rozhodně tím nemyslí zmenšení území Ruska, že? Proto tomuto soudruhovi v Kremlu nelze věřit," said Zelenskyj, Prezidentova.
Key outcomes from the Abu Dhabi talks included an agreement on a large-scale prisoner exchange and the continued involvement of European representatives in the negotiation process, according to Seznam Zprávy.
Frequently asked questions about the peace talks
What did US negotiators propose regarding Donbas?
US officials asked Ukrainian leadership if Kyiv would be willing to pull forces out of the Donbas region if NATO extended membership to Ukraine. Seznam Zprávy noted this was the first time the specific trade-off was raised during talks.
How would a potential territorial swap be decided in Ukraine?
President Zelenskyy stated he would initiate an open dialogue and put the question to a public vote if the US and NATO provide concrete conditions. Novinky reported that no formal proposal or finalized package currently exists.
What are Ukraine's non-negotiable terms for any agreement?
Kyiv maintains that it will not legally recognize Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories as part of the Russian Federation. Seznam Zprávy confirmed that the surrender of eastern territories remains a primary demand from Moscow.
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