Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said United States negotiators asked whether Kyiv would withdraw its forces from the eastern region of Donbas in exchange for NATO membership.
The proposal emerged during trilateral peace talks held in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11 between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S., mediated by Trump administration envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. It marks the first time territorial concessions have been directly linked to the transatlantic military alliance in negotiations, according to RTÉ.
Ukraine Latest: Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the US has for the first time raised the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing from the Donbas in exchange for Nato membership, as Washington explores terms for ending Russia’s full-scale invasion. w/ @HenryJFoyhttps://t.co/LTfjfaRcro
Sides Agree to Prisoner Exchange Without Major Breakthrough
The two days of discussions concluded without a major breakthrough, though the sides agreed to a prisoner exchange involving more than 1,000 people on each side, as reported by ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Ukrainian leaders cautioned that broader discussions about a new European security architecture could be exploited by Moscow.
“In my view, this can be dangerous,” Zelenskyy told reporters on November 13, in remarks embargoed until November 14. “This should not be the main agenda.”
NEW: The United States and Ukraine continue to view the involvement of European officials in future peace negotiations with Russia as necessary. Moscow, however, is willing to let European officials participate in talks only about a new European security architecture – not about… pic.twitter.com/TjZqDdYcfl
He warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed to use the talks to weaken NATO and alter borders across the continent, comparing the current discussions to similar demands Putin made to then-U.S. President Joe Biden in 2021.
Zelenskyy Says Territorial Questions Require a National Vote
Speaking to journalists in Dublin after meeting with U.S. envoys, Zelenskyy said that any comprehensive peace package involving territorial questions would require a national vote. He emphasized that Kyiv would not recognize occupied territories as Russian and rejected any constitutional commitment to neutrality.
“If the American side confirms precisely this to us, together with other NATO partners, then I will ask our Ukrainian society what they think: Do we accept it or not?” he said, according to CBC. “I have no right to make that decision on my own.”
The Ukrainian leader maintained that the sequence for any lasting settlement must start with a ceasefire, followed by an end to the war and concrete security guarantees from NATO and the European Union, as detailed by The Guardian.
Simultaneous Strikes and Aid
While diplomatic efforts proceeded, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces struck the Samara oil pipeline station near Prosvet on November 13, setting several oil storage tanks on fire, alongside an attack on the Lipetsk-2 airfield in Russia’s Lipetsk region, as noted by HuffPost.
Meanwhile, international support continued to flow, including a new support package from Denmark worth €645 million, which includes 20 mm ammunition for F-16 fighter jets and around €200 million dedicated to drone production, according to Reform.
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