US proposes Ukraine cede Donbas to join NATO, Zelenskyy confirms
The US proposed Ukraine trade Donbas for NATO membership, marking a major shift in peace strategy.
Why it matters
This is the first time the US has publicly linked NATO membership to land concessions. It shows a shift in strategy to end the war.
In Australia. Australia, as a US and EU ally, may face pressure to back peace proposals that involve territorial compromise, a major shift from previous support for Ukrainian sovereignty.
Key facts
- Donbas
- Region proposed
- Ukrainian NATO membership
- Putin's stated red line
- 2022
- Invasion year
- 1,000+ people
- Prisoner exchange agreed
- US negotiators raised the idea of Ukraine leaving Donbas in exchange for NATO membership.
- President Zelenskyy said this is the first time the trade-off has been formally proposed.
- Zelenskyy said Kyiv is not ready to give up territory.
- He would put such a deal to voters if it came with security guarantees, army funding and rebuild money.
- Russian President Putin has called membership of NATO a red line and cited it as a reason for the 2022 invasion.
- US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday ended without major breakthrough.
- The sides agreed to a prisoner exchange involving more than 1,000 people.
- EU leaders in Dublin agreed that Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland would sit at future peace talks alongside EU officials.
