Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says US negotiators have raised a possible territorial concession in exchange for NATO membership.

The question reportedly emerged during recent US-brokered negotiations involving Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Zelensky disclosed the discussion in remarks released on Saturday, November 14. He said American representatives asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from Donbas if it received NATO membership.

The Ukrainian leader described it as the first time negotiators had linked the country's NATO ambitions directly to territorial concessions.

However, the reported discussion has not produced an agreement. Zelensky maintains that Ukraine is not prepared to surrender its territory.

The development introduces a difficult question into efforts to end Russia’s war: whether Ukraine could secure stronger long-term protection at the cost of land it considers part of its sovereign territory.

US Raises Donbas Withdrawal During NATO Discussions

According to Zelensky, American negotiators raised the possibility during discussions surrounding a potential post-war security arrangement.

"The Americans raised a question: 'What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?'" he told reporters.

Donbas is an industrial region in eastern Ukraine comprising Donetsk and Luhansk. Russian forces occupy large parts of the region, while Ukrainian troops continue to control other areas.

Moscow has repeatedly demanded control over the entire Donbas region. Ukraine has rejected the demand and considers the occupied territories part of its internationally recognised territory.

Zelensky said Kyiv was discussing specific security guarantees from NATO and the European Union.

He also wants assurances that Ukraine would retain a sufficiently strong military, with adequate troops and weapons.

Financial support for rebuilding the country would also form part of any comprehensive arrangement.

The Ukrainian president said he could put such a package before the Ukrainian public in a national referendum if Western partners confirmed the necessary guarantees.

He stressed that he could not make such a decision alone.

Zelensky Rejects Territorial Concessions Without Guarantees

Despite acknowledging the discussion, Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine was not ready to surrender territory.

He also questioned the sequence of Russia's demands during the negotiations.

Moscow has pushed for wider discussions about Europe's security arrangements, including NATO's military presence and influence across the continent.

Zelensky argued that negotiations should first establish how to end the war. He warned against reversing that order by prioritising a broader restructuring of European security.

His position reflects Kyiv's concern that a settlement could leave Ukraine exposed to another Russian attack.

The country has repeatedly sought NATO membership because the alliance's collective defence commitment offers protection against attacks on its members.

However, membership is not guaranteed simply because the United States supports it. NATO decisions on inviting new members require agreement among all alliance members.

That means any arrangement linking Ukrainian territorial withdrawal to NATO membership would depend on much wider negotiations.

Abu Dhabi Talks End Without Major Breakthrough

The latest negotiations involved US, Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi.

The two-day discussions ended on Wednesday without a major breakthrough on ending the war.

However, Zelensky said the sides had agreed in principle to a prisoner exchange involving more than 1,000 people. The final numbers were still being discussed.

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also held separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin before meeting Zelensky in Ireland.

The American representatives reportedly discussed the possibility of a ceasefire covering attacks on energy infrastructure.

Zelensky said Russia rejected the proposal and reported no progress following the US envoys' meeting with Putin.

European representatives also attended discussions in Abu Dhabi, although they did not participate in the talks with Russia.

Following a summit in Dublin, European leaders agreed that Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and European Union officials should take part in future negotiations.

Kushner said the parties understood that practical compromises would be necessary to end the conflict.

US Proposal Remains Unclear as Russia Maintains Its Position

Although Zelensky described the question raised by American negotiators, several important details remain unresolved.

The United States has not publicly confirmed the reported exchange as a formal proposal. No complete agreement, timetable or specific territorial arrangement has been announced.

It is therefore important to distinguish between a question raised during negotiations and a policy formally adopted by Washington.

Russia's position also presents a major obstacle. Putin has repeatedly opposed Ukraine joining NATO, describing the prospect as a security threat to Moscow.

That position raises doubts about whether a territorial concession would actually secure the membership arrangement discussed by Zelensky.

The wider conflict has also continued to shape the negotiations. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and fighting has continued despite repeated diplomatic efforts.

For Ukraine, the central challenge is securing an agreement that ends the fighting without leaving the country vulnerable to renewed aggression.

The next phase of negotiations will show whether the NATO question develops into a concrete security arrangement or remains an exploratory discussion.

For now, Kyiv has not agreed to withdraw from Donbas, and the reported US suggestion remains short of a confirmed peace deal.