American negotiators asked Ukraine whether it would withdraw troops from Donbas in exchange for NATO membership, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The question arose during the second round of trilateral talks mediated by the United States on November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi, Novinky reported. Subsequent consultations took place in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and high-ranking American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, according to Novinky.
If the U.S. and other allies confirm a concrete security package, Zelenskyy said he intends to ask the Ukrainian public whether to accept such an agreement. Kyiv has previously insisted it will neither withdraw from its own territory nor surrender it, though Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine will not legally recognize occupied territories as part of Russia.
“Pokud nám americká strana společně s dalšími spojenci z NATO takovou možnost potvrdí, zeptám se na názor naší společnosti: Přijmeme to, nebo ne? Nemám právo o tom rozhodnout sám od sebe. Zatím ale chybí konkrétní podmínky a vše je stále předmětem jednání,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as cited by Kyiv Post and reported by Novinky.
Echo24 reported that Zelenskyy intends to hold a vote among Ukrainians regarding any potential territorial arrangement. Alternative agreements involving military support and air defense are viewed by Kyiv as possible but less reliable than full alliance integration.
The security package under discussion includes binding commitments from NATO and the European Union, a Ukrainian military with guaranteed troop levels and armaments, and clearly sourced financial backing for post-war reconstruction.
Zelenskyy regards full NATO membership as essential for reducing the risk of renewed Russian aggression, considering Article 5 security guarantees a mandatory minimum for any peace accord. Echo24 said that Denmark and other Nordic countries actively support Ukraine’s accession to the alliance.
During the briefings, the Ukrainian leader directly warned American negotiators against trusting Putin. He asserted that the Kremlin leader exploits diplomatic mediation to complicate negotiations and prolong the conflict.
“Když Putin mluví o státních hranicích, rohodně tím nemyslí zmenšení území Ruska, že? Proto tomuto soudruhovi v Kremlu nelze věřit,” Zelenskyy told journalists.
| Event / Consultation | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Trilateral Talks (U.S. Mediated) | November 10–11, 2026 | Abu Dhabi |
| U.S. Envoy Consultations | Mid-November 2026 | Moscow |
Territorial disputes and post-war security architecture remain unresolved, Echo24 reported, as diplomatic channels continue to test potential frameworks for ending hostilities.
