US offered Ukraine NATO membership in exchange for withdrawal from Donbas – Zelensky

US representatives have raised the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO in exchange for withdrawing its military forces from the Donbas region during recent diplomatic talks.

According to TodayPress TV, citing foreign media reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed this in a conversation with journalists.

According to Zelensky, US officials raised the issue for the first time during diplomatic contacts.

The Ukrainian leader stressed that Kyiv has no intention of withdrawing from or surrendering its sovereign territories. At the same time, he said that if a concrete proposal were put forward involving NATO membership, legally binding security guarantees and financial support for the country's reconstruction, it could be submitted for discussion by Ukrainian society.

Zelensky noted that he did not consider himself entitled to make such a decision unilaterally and that the final position should be determined based on the people's views. He emphasised the importance of the United States, together with its other NATO allies, providing concrete guarantees.

The president added that the details of the proposal had not yet been finalised and that discussions were ongoing.

The head of state reiterated that Ukraine would not agree to the legal recognition of occupied territories as part of Russia.

According to him, if such a proposal is put forward, the issue will be openly discussed with the public, and the positions of partners and approaches envisaged for the future will be presented. However, recognising the territories as part of Russia will under no circumstances be open for discussion.