Give Donbas, take NATO seat: Could new US pitch work for Ukraine, Russia?
Summary
U.S. negotiators reportedly raised a proposal under which Ukraine could join NATO if it gave up control of the Donbas region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the idea was discussed during U.S.-mediated peace talks, but analysts said Russia and some NATO members might oppose it.Key Facts
- Ukraine applied to join NATO in September 2022.
- Zelenskyy said U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from Donbas in exchange for NATO membership.
- Russia has demanded control of Donbas as a condition for ending the war, according to the account.
- Putin opposes Ukraine joining NATO and has demanded that the alliance pull troops back from countries bordering Russia.
- Witkoff and Kushner met Putin in Moscow after the Abu Dhabi peace talks and later briefed Zelenskyy in Dublin.
- Analyst Ian Lesser said Moscow would be unlikely to accept Ukraine joining NATO and some alliance members could also have doubts.
- Analyst Chris Featherstone said NATO membership could provide Ukraine with support if Russia restarted the conflict.
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