Zelenskyy Says Security Deal Could Go to a Referendum

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in remarks published on Saturday that US peace envoys had asked whether Kyiv would withdraw from the eastern region of Donbas in return for joining NATO, the North Atlantic military alliance. The question came after the latest round of peace talks in Abu Dhabi, aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine, which has lasted nearly five years.

Zelenskyy repeated Kyiv's position that it is unwilling to cede territory to Russia. However, he said that if a comprehensive agreement were reached, including security guarantees, a strong and well-funded Ukrainian army and money for reconstruction, he would put the question to the public in a referendum.

"That is why I believe NATO is back on the agenda. But you have also heard Putin's signals, and this is an extremely difficult conversation," the Ukrainian leader said. According to him, the idea of NATO membership in exchange for leaving Donbas had not been raised before.

Warning on European security architecture

Zelenskyy also warned about Moscow's plan to change the continent's security architecture, saying it could lead to further conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that NATO pull its troops back from the Russian border, a demand European Union leaders have strongly criticized. "Real security in Europe means the EU and NATO. That's it," Zelenskyy said.

Europe's role in the talks

On Friday, the EU said diplomats from several European countries, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Poland, would take part in future peace talks. Moscow has long insisted that European states be excluded because they support Ukraine.

Russian strikes

Russia's Defence Ministry, as reported by the Interfax news agency, said its forces had captured the settlement of Tersianka in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region. The ministry also said it had struck Ukrainian energy and transport infrastructure used by the military, as well as ammunition depots and drone production and storage sites.

Russia has repeatedly targeted power stations across Ukraine with ballistic and cruise missiles, cutting electricity and heating for millions of people as temperatures fall. Zelenskyy warned that Putin was "betting everything" on this winter's campaign, which Kyiv says is meant to hurt public morale.