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U.S. floated exchanging Ukrainian territory for NATO membership, Zelenskyy says
CBS News • • world
Key Points:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that U.S. negotiators asked if Ukraine would consider withdrawing from the Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership, marking the first time this proposal was raised.
- Zelenskyy is discussing a "security package" with NATO and the EU that includes troop deployments, weapons, financial support, and security guarantees, and he would consult Ukrainians before accepting any territorial concessions.
- Control over Donbas remains a major obstacle in peace talks, with Russia occupying much of the region and demanding Ukrainian withdrawal as a condition for peace, while also annexing parts of eastern Ukraine in 2022, actions widely condemned as illegal.
- Zelenskyy emphasized the need for security guarantees similar to NATO's Article 5, which commits members to collective defense, but expressed uncertainty about the effectiveness and details of potential NATO membership.
