Zelenskyy: US Floats Ukrainian NATO Membership in Exchange for Withdrawal From Part of Donbas
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the US has for the first time asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from parts of Donbas in return for NATO membership. He stressed that Ukraine will not surrender territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters on Saturday, 15 November, that the United States has for the first time asked whether Ukraine would pull out of the part of eastern Donbas that Russia does not control in exchange for joining NATO, the North Atlantic military alliance. His office released the remarks. The question comes amid talks on ending the war in Ukraine and on a new postwar security framework for Europe.
"The Americans raised a question: what if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?" Zelenskyy said, adding that he therefore believes NATO is back on the agenda. He called the idea dangerous, arguing that it could let Russia weaken NATO and reshape borders, and that such things lead to wars or escalation.
Zelenskyy repeated that Kyiv is not ready to concede territory. If Ukraine received a comprehensive package including security guarantees, the right to a strong and well-funded army, and money for reconstruction, he would put the question to a national referendum. He also rejected Russia's demand that a broad European security architecture be agreed before the war is ended, saying the war must be ended first. Enshrining neutrality in Ukraine's constitution, he said, will not happen.
Jared Kushner, envoy of US President Donald Trump and his son-in-law, said on Saturday that Washington is focused on facilitating direct engagement between Russia and European countries, following trilateral meetings this week involving the US, Moscow and Kyiv. Washington and NATO have not yet commented on the proposed Donbas-for-membership swap. The negotiations did produce agreement that European countries will join future talks.
Other developments
Zelenskyy accused SpaceX of not telling the truth about restrictions on Ukraine's Starshield satellite system, saying the speed limits appear "political" rather than "technical". He said the restrictions, in place for five days, mean Ukrainian drones can no longer intercept jet-powered Russian Shahed drones.
French President Emmanuel Macron said countries seeking to limit aid to Ukraine want to impose an "unjust peace", which he called a recipe for another war.
Russia's defence ministry said its forces struck a cargo vessel in the port of Chornomorsk. Ukraine's General Staff reported a strike on an oil pipeline station in Russia's Samara region, and Ukraine's Emergency Service said 22 people were injured in a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia.
