Sourced fact
The News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that new American negotiations have put forward the idea of withdrawing remaining Ukrainian forces from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for Ukraine's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. These statements came after a US delegation including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff visited Moscow and then Dublin to discuss ending the war with Russia.
According to what Zelenskyy told journalists, Americans raised for the first time a question linking Ukraine's joining of the alliance with its withdrawal from Donbas, while the Ukrainian president confirmed his country's rejection of yielding any part of its territorial sovereignty despite Moscow's demands. He added that the Ukrainian president is still not ready to accept any proposal involving restrictions on his army or funds for rebuilding the country unless it includes security guarantees, which he would submit to a popular referendum if available.
In contrast, signals from Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin officials indicated that Moscow's position has not changed and its demands for shackling Ukraine with neutrality and imposing military and regional borders still far exceed what Kyiv is prepared to accept. These developments come amidst Russia's continued occupation of about five Ukrainian territories, including most Donbas regions, where Kyiv's concession of any small part would be a symbolic step meaning acceptance that Donbas is Russian land.
Zelenskyy added that this proposal puts the North Atlantic Treaty Organization back on the agenda after former US officials said Ukraine's joining was outside discussion, but warned of the difficulty of talks amidst Putin's signals. He also reminded that First Lady Melania Trump recently contributed to reaching a temporary ceasefire in Oleshky city under Russian occupation to facilitate evacuation operations and delivery of humanitarian aid.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
From an analytical perspective, this proposal represents a qualitative shift in peace strategy, where the United States links NATO membership with withdrawal from Donbas, which contradicts Moscow's position that a new member on its border is unacceptable. Moreover, Ukraine's concession of small parts of territories it currently controls would have major symbolic significance for Kyiv acknowledging Donbas as part of Russia.
In the wider context, Kyiv has long sought to make NATO membership a prerequisite for any peace agreement to prevent future threats, while Moscow repeatedly rejected this request. Previously, Moscow proposed imposing restrictions on the size of the Ukrainian army and ensuring its neutrality as part of peace conditions, but Ukraine rejected these terms considering they would hinder its ability to repel any future invasion.
The region has recently witnessed signs of possible common ground between both parties, where First Lady Melania Trump succeeded in mediation to end a temporary ceasefire in Oleshky city occupied by Russia to facilitate evacuation operations and delivery of humanitarian aid.
