Ukraine NATO Membership Proposal Linked to Donbas Withdrawal, Zelenskyy Says
Sunday 15/November/2026 - 02:29 PM
Ahmed Seif El-din
Washington has raised the possibility of NATO membership in exchange for Ukraine withdrawing from its remaining positions in Donbas, but Kyiv says any decision would require public consultation and firm security guarantees.
Ukraine NATO membership has emerged as a potential bargaining point in negotiations to end Russia's full-scale invasion, after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that American negotiators had raised the possibility of Kyiv withdrawing from the remaining Ukrainian-controlled areas of Donbas in exchange for admission to the military alliance.
Speaking to reporters on Friday evening, Zelenskyy said US representatives Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff had asked whether Ukraine would consider such an arrangement. He stressed that no decision had been made and that any serious proposal would need confirmation from Washington and other NATO members.
US Raises NATO Membership in Donbas Peace Discussions
According to Zelenskyy, the American proposal marks the first time US negotiators have directly raised the possibility of exchanging Ukrainian withdrawal from Donbas for NATO membership.
Ukraine has sought entry into the alliance for years, viewing its collective defense commitments as essential protection against future Russian aggression.
However, previous efforts faced resistance from the United States, Germany and other NATO members concerned about the possibility of direct military confrontation with Moscow.
Zelenskyy said he would consult Ukrainian citizens if the proposal became a formal offer supported by NATO allies.
He emphasized that he could not independently authorize a decision involving territory and national security.
Importantly, the Ukrainian president maintained that Kyiv would not recognize Russian sovereignty over occupied Ukrainian territories, including Donbas.
The distinction between withdrawing troops and legally recognizing territorial changes remains central to the negotiations.
Ukraine Still Controls 20% of Donbas
The proposed arrangement concerns approximately 20% of the Donbas region that remains under Ukrainian control.
Russia has attempted to capture the entire region since its initial military intervention in 2014 but has failed to secure several strategically important Ukrainian-held cities.
Russian forces have suffered tens of thousands of casualties this year during operations targeting the remaining defensive positions, commonly described as Ukraine's fortress belt.
Any Ukrainian withdrawal would therefore carry significant military, territorial and political consequences.
Russia has consistently opposed Ukraine NATO membership and has demanded broader changes to Europe's post-Cold War security arrangements.
The White House, US embassy in Kyiv and NATO had not immediately responded to requests for comment on Zelenskyy's account.
Peace Talks Resume in Abu Dhabi After Months of Disruption
The latest diplomatic developments follow renewed negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States.
The first trilateral discussions since February took place in Abu Dhabi this week, after talks were interrupted by the outbreak of war involving Iran.
European representatives participated in separate discussions with American and Ukrainian officials but were excluded from direct negotiations with Russia.
Zelenskyy has called for European governments to participate in future rounds.
On Friday, European Union leaders agreed that representatives from France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom, alongside the EU and NATO, would participate in technical-level negotiations.
Moscow has indicated that any European representative should be acceptable to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
European officials, meanwhile, have cautioned that negotiations involving national leaders are unlikely in the immediate future.
European Allies Support Renewed NATO Discussions
European governments have expressed support for revisiting Ukraine NATO membership as part of a broader negotiating strategy, according to officials briefed on the Abu Dhabi discussions.
Some Western countries have also considered alternative arrangements that would provide security commitments resembling NATO's Article 5 collective defense clause without granting full alliance membership.
Under Article 5, an armed attack against one NATO member is treated as an attack against all members, although the specific response remains subject to each country's decisions.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was negotiating a comprehensive security package involving NATO and European Union guarantees, long-term military assistance and an internationally supported reconstruction program.
The objective is to establish a durable security framework capable of preventing renewed Russian aggression after any peace settlement.
Ukraine Seeks More Air Defense and Energy Assistance
Alongside diplomatic negotiations, Ukraine continues to request additional military and financial assistance.
Zelenskyy warned that the country needs substantially stronger air defense capabilities and energy-sector support ahead of winter, when Russia is expected to intensify attacks on critical infrastructure.
Denmark has pledged a €645 million assistance package, including 20mm ammunition for Ukraine's F-16 fighter aircraft.
The ammunition is intended to help Ukrainian forces intercept jet-powered drones.
The package also includes €200 million for Ukrainian drone production.
These commitments highlight the importance of maintaining Ukraine's defensive capabilities while diplomatic negotiations continue.
Starshield Restrictions Trigger Dispute With SpaceX
Zelenskyy also criticized reported speed restrictions affecting Starshield satellite communications systems used by Ukrainian forces.
Starshield is a military-focused service developed by SpaceX and funded by the Pentagon.
According to the Ukrainian president, restrictions introduced several days earlier limit operational speeds to 161 kilometers per hour, equivalent to 100 miles per hour.
He said the limits were interfering with medium-range strikes against Russian targets in occupied Ukrainian territory and complicating efforts to intercept jet-powered drones.
Zelenskyy suggested that the restrictions appeared to apply specifically to Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials believe the measures could have political implications because they may affect how occupied territory is treated during peace negotiations.
Senior Ukrainian officials told the Financial Times they suspected the restrictions were intended to increase pressure on Kyiv and strengthen Moscow's negotiating position.
However, SpaceX disputed the allegations, stating that no changes had been made to the service.
The conflicting accounts have not been independently resolved.
Can NATO Membership Help End the Russia-Ukraine War?
The latest proposal introduces a potentially significant new dimension to efforts to end the conflict.
For Ukraine, NATO membership has long represented one of the strongest possible safeguards against future Russian attacks.
For Moscow, preventing Ukraine from joining the alliance remains a central strategic demand.
That fundamental disagreement creates uncertainty over whether a territorial withdrawal arrangement could form the basis of a mutually acceptable peace agreement.
Even if Washington supported the proposal, Ukraine NATO membership would require agreement among NATO allies, while any Ukrainian withdrawal would raise difficult domestic political and security questions.
Zelenskyy's insistence on public consultation reflects the sensitivity of decisions involving territory that Ukraine continues to regard as sovereign.
The negotiations also face broader challenges, including European participation, reconstruction financing, long-term military support and the enforcement of any future settlement.
For now, the proposed exchange remains an idea raised during discussions rather than a confirmed agreement.
The future of Ukraine NATO membership and the status of Donbas will depend on whether Kyiv, Washington, European allies and Moscow can reconcile fundamentally different positions on territory and security.
