Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that United States negotiators raised the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing its forces from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership during this week’s US-mediated peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
Speaking to reporters in remarks released on Saturday, November 14, 2026, Zelensky noted that this was the first time Washington had directly linked territorial withdrawal to NATO accession, emphasizing that he cannot make such a monumental decision unilaterally without consulting Ukrainian society—and potentially putting a comprehensive package to a national referendum.
Zelensky’s Conditions & Warning on European Security
While reiterating that Kyiv is unwilling to voluntarily cede territory or recognise Russian occupation, Zelensky said the proposal has brought NATO membership “back on the agenda”—provided Western partners first confirm concrete commitments:
- Full Security & Reconstruction Package: Zelensky stated that any question put to Ukrainian voters would require ironclad Western security guarantees, funding for a strong Ukrainian military, and substantial reconstruction aid.
- Pushback Against Overhauling European Security: The Ukrainian leader warned against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demand to rewrite Europe’s broader post-Cold War security architecture—including potential Russian pressure over Finland, Sweden, Hungary, and US troop deployments in the Baltic states. “Real security in Europe means the EU and NATO. That’s it,” Zelensky stressed.
”The Americans raised a question: ‘What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?’ This was the first time this had been raised… Then I will ask our Ukrainian society what it thinks: do we accept it or not? I have no right to make that decision on my own.”
— Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine
Where the Abu Dhabi Peace Talks Stand
The Abu Dhabi meetings marked the first direct US-brokered negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in nine months, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing the discussions as “very productive”. While Moscow continues to demand full control over four annexed regions, strict limits on Ukraine’s military, and a permanent ban on Kyiv joining NATO—and rejected an immediate energy ceasefire—the talks yielded an agreement in principle for a major prisoner exchange involving over 1,000 detainees on each side, alongside plans to bring European representatives into upcoming rounds.
