Zelensky says US proposed land-for-NATO deal in Abu Dhabi talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that the United States suggested for the first time that Ukraine cede land to Russia in exchange for joining NATO. The proposal was raised during two days of US-brokered negotiations held in Abu Dhabi in November, which aimed to address the ongoing conflict in the region.

Speaking to the media on 13 November following visits to Denmark and Ireland, President Zelensky disclosed that the American delegation questioned whether Ukraine would be prepared to withdraw from the Donbas region as part of a potential NATO accession deal. He emphasised that any decision regarding security guarantees from NATO and the European Union would require the consent of the Ukrainian public, stating that he does not have the authority to make such a significant choice unilaterally.

The discussions in Abu Dhabi involved US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who met separately with President Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. While the talks concluded without a breakthrough in what is currently Europe's largest conflict since World War II, all participating parties reached an agreement that European officials should be included in any future negotiations.

During the meetings, Russia reportedly rejected a proposal for a ceasefire concerning attacks on energy infrastructure. President Zelensky described the Kremlin’s broader demands to redraw Europe’s security architecture as dangerous, warning that such attempts to alter regional stability could lead to further conflict or escalation across the continent.

President Zelensky also addressed a proposal from President Putin regarding a humanitarian mission to the city of Kostyantynivka. The Ukrainian leader dismissed the offer as a tactical ploy intended to force a Ukrainian withdrawal from the embattled area, which would subsequently allow Russian forces to occupy the remainder of the Donetsk region. While Moscow claimed to have captured the town in 2026, Ukrainian officials maintain that fighting in the area is ongoing.

The President warned that Russia is currently focusing its resources on a significant winter campaign, noting that the Kremlin is betting everything on the outcome of the 2026 winter operations. He reiterated that NATO and the European Union remain the only viable security frameworks for Ukraine, cautioning against any attempts to compromise on the established security architecture of Europe.