Zelensky Says Joining NATO May Be Possible in Exchange for Donbas – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims that Trump administration negotiators are floating the idea that Ukrainian forces should withdraw from the eastern part of Donbas as a condition to be accepted into NATO.
US Envoys Meet With Both Sides
British soldiers with the Queen’s Royal Hussars move a Challenger II main battle tank down range during the Strong Europe Tank Challenge at the 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, June 4, 2018. The U.S. Army Europe and the German Army co-host the third Strong Europe Tank Challenge, which is an annual training event designed to give participating nations a dynamic, productive and fun environment in which to foster military partnerships, form Soldier-level relationships, and share tactics, techniques and procedures. (U.S. Army photo by Gertrud Zach)
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II participating in NATO exercise Ramstein Flag 24 flies over the west coast of Greece, Oct. 4, 2024. Over 130 fighter and enabler aircraft from Greece, Canada, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States are training side by side to improve tactics and foster more robust integration, demonstrating NATO’s resolve, commitment and ability to deter potential adversaries and defend the Alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Emili Koonce)
US officials have yet to confirm Zelenskyy’s remarks on Saturday, November 14, but one official told reporters at the BBC that “many ideas” are being discussed and that both parties will have to agree to reach a final deal.
Russia has consistently maintained that Ukraine should not be allowed to join NATO.
Zelenskyy’s comments come after American envoys Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Ukrainian president. Witkoff and Kushner first met with Putin in Moscow on Thursday, November 12, for a round of discussions about bringing a resolution to the conflict, then flew to Dublin to meet with Zelensky.
The Donbas Region Dispute
Russia currently controls most of the Donbas region and has cited offenses committed there by Ukrainian forces against Russian-speaking natives as one of the reasons for invading in February 2022.
The Ukrainian government has consistently maintained that they are not willing to give up the territory to permanent Russian control.
In his Saturday remarks, the Ukrainian president said he was asked if they would be willing to withdraw completely from the disputed region “if Ukraine joins NATO.”
He said it was the first time such a proposal was made and that he would be willing to put it to a referendum if certain security guarantees were made, if funds were provided for a specified period to help rebuild Ukraine after the war ends, and if there were no constraints on its military.
Zelensky said if America and its NATO partners can confirm these conditions will be met, he will ask Ukrainian society “what it thinks” about the proposal.
European Security Framework Reforms
During discussions with Putin about ending the Russian invasion, Washington has reportedly also floated the idea of changing the European security framework, but Zelenskyy warns that Moscow could exploit such proposals.
The Ukrainian president said this “should not be the main agenda” and that it could be “dangerous.” He claimed Putin may exploit the exchange proposal in order to redraw European borders and weaken NATO. Zelenskyy said it could lead to more wars or escalations, and insisted that he could not commit to neutrality, which would require restructuring Ukraine’s constitution.
European leaders agreed with Zelenskyy’s warning against letting Putin dictate the terms of the continent’s security order and insisted Europeans must make these choices themselves.
The Casualties Continue
The envoy talks come amid a wave of recent attacks exchanged between the two nations.
Russia deployed several attack drones last week and struck multiple regions of Ukraine, its energy sector, railway systems, and civilian infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Kyiv. Ukraine retaliated with a massive barrage of drones targeting mostly military and energy targets.
Between November 12 and 13, as the leaders of both nations met with US envoys for peace talks, Russia fired over 2,300 attack drones at multiple Ukrainian border settlements, leading to several civilian and military casualties. There were also reports from Russia claiming it had taken Voskresenka, a region in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, but Ukrainian sources responded that the claims were false.
On Saturday, November 14, the Russian Defense Ministry said Russian forces captured Tersyanka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and reported over 1,000 military losses on the Ukrainian side in the past 24 hours.
Ukrainian retaliations between November 12 and 15 were widespread.
They hit infrastructure at Ust-Luga Port and a warship in the Gulf of Finland, sparked a major fire at Russia’s largest oil refinery in Omsk, and damaged an aviation command center, a fuel storage tank, and other equipment at the Russian airfield in Lipetsk. They then struck another oil refinery in Volgograd, as well as a highway bridge, substations, and a petrochemical complex in Tatarstan, killing one and injuring several others.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
