Kyiv has been advised by Washington to consider ceding territory to Moscow as part of discussions about NATO membership, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent comments. He stated that Ukraine’s relationship with the Western military alliance is now “back on the agenda.”
Zelensky cautioned against Moscow’s attempts to expand its influence in Europe and claimed that the Kremlin is “betting everything” on its military campaign this winter. As Russia intensifies its attacks in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin shows little sign of backing down.
In Abu Dhabi, US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with both Zelensky and Putin, but no significant progress was made. However, they did agree that European nations would join future talks aimed at ending the conflict. Five countries—France, Germany, Italy, the UK, and Poland—will send representatives to these discussions.
Zelensky revealed that the Americans raised the issue of whether Ukraine would withdraw from the Donbas if it joined NATO. He expressed that, given the support Ukraine has received and its military advancements, the US cannot afford to disregard the country’s needs. He believes NATO could benefit from Ukraine’s nearly five years of combat experience.
Kyiv is also looking for “specific” post-war support from Western nations, but Zelensky stated he would consult Ukrainians before agreeing to any terms. He firmly stated that Ukraine will not recognise any land taken by Russian forces as part of Russia.
Moscow, which considers Ukraine’s NATO membership a “red line,” had previously invaded Ukraine, alleging that the West aimed to pull Ukraine into the alliance. During the recent negotiations, Putin dismissed the possibility of foreign peacekeeping troops in Ukraine and rejected broader ceasefire proposals.
Zelensky claimed that a recent Russian offer for a “humanitarian” mission to Kostyantynivka, a town Moscow claimed to have seized, was merely a tactic to force Ukraine to withdraw from the area and facilitate further territorial changes in the Donetsk region. He emphasised that if Ukraine surrendered Kostyantynivka, other cities in the Donbas would be next.
While Moscow’s forces have made incremental advancements, they have failed to capture the entirety of the Donetsk region. Zelensky mentioned that Russia also rejected a proposal for an energy ceasefire during the Abu Dhabi talks.
The Kremlin is trying to shift discussions from ending the war to broader security issues in Europe. Russian negotiators have proposed a “new, modern Yalta” to reshape the continent’s security landscape, a reference to the post-World War II conference that divided Europe.
European leaders have responded cautiously to this proposal, stating that the existing security architecture is sufficient. Zelensky and his allies insist that achieving a ceasefire should be the priority in any talks, arguing that discussions around security frameworks should not precede the need to end the war. Zelensky warned that Moscow’s plans for redistributing power in Europe pose serious dangers and could lead to further conflicts.
