US has, for first time, asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from Donbas in exchange for NATO membership, – Zelenskyy
The American delegation asked Kyiv whether Ukraine was considering the possibility of withdrawing its forces from the Donbas in exchange for NATO membership.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made this statement whilst speaking to journalists, according to Censor.NET, citing RBC-Ukraine.
NATO membership in exchange for withdrawal from Donbas
According to the president, the Americans asked for the first time whether Ukraine would withdraw from Donbas if it joined NATO.
"I have said time and again: Ukraine will not retreat and will not hand over its territory to terrorists. The Americans asked: ‘If Ukraine joins NATO, will it withdraw from Donbas?’ This was the first time," said Zelenskyy.
Comprehensive security package
He also explained that Ukraine is discussing with its partners a comprehensive security package that they could propose during the negotiations: specific security guarantees from NATO and the EU, a strong Ukrainian army – an adequate number of troops, weapons and financial support for a defined period – and a Prosperity Plan (Recovery Plan), backed by funds from clearly identified sources.
"If the American side confirms this to us, together with our other NATO colleagues, then I will seek the opinion of our society: do we accept it or not? I do not have the right to decide this at my own discretion. But we need concrete details, which are not yet available, and all this is still under discussion," the President noted.
However, according to him, Ukraine will under no circumstances recognise the occupied territories as part of Russia.
"If such a proposal were to be made, as president I would engage in an open dialogue with the public and say: ‘Look, this is where we stand, this is how all our partners have united, and this is how they see things moving forward.’ Of course, without any recognition of the occupied territories as part of Russia," said Zelenskyy.
The President told US representatives that Russia cannot be trusted – its leader is simply complicating mediation and delaying an end to the war:
"When Putin says something about state borders, it certainly doesn’t mean a reduction in Russia’s territory, does it? That’s why there’s no trust in our comrade in the Kremlin," emphasised Zelenskyy.
Guarantees modelled on NATO’s Article 5
He believes that NATO membership would reduce the likelihood of renewed aggression against Ukraine. The head of state described the provision of security guarantees to Ukraine, modelled on NATO’s Article 5, as the necessary minimum.
At the same time, Zelenskyy is not certain that this would definitely work, as NATO has only acted in unison once, following the terrorist attack in the US in 2001.
According to the President, Ukraine could strengthen the Alliance, and the issue of membership is back on the agenda.
