US negotiators have floated the ​idea of Ukraine’s potential withdrawal from its eastern region of Donbas in exchange for joining NATO, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, following the latest round of peace ‌talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi.

This is the first time the question of linking NATO membership to territorial concessions has been raised during the talks, Zelenskyy said in remarks to reporters released by his office on Saturday.

“The Americans raised a question: ‘What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?” he said.
“That is why I believe NATO is back ​on the agenda. But you have also heard (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s signals, and this is an extremely difficult conversation.”

Putin has long said Ukrainian ​membership of NATO is a red line for Moscow, citing the issue as one reason for launching Russia’s full-blown ⁠invasion in 2022.

Zelenskyy reiterated his position that Kyiv was not ready to concede territory but said that if it received a comprehensive package including security ​guarantees, the right to a strong and well-funded Ukrainian army and funds to rebuild, he would put the question to a national referendum.

Echoing comments made by European leaders at a summit in Dublin on Friday, Zelenskyy dismissed Russia’s call for a broad agreement on European security architecture to be reached before the specifics are agreed on how to end the war in Ukraine.

“We cannot turn everything upside down and start by talking about changing the security framework in the world ​or across the continent overall, and only then talk about ending this war. This war must be ended first,” he said.

Zelenskyy also dismissed Putin’s suggestion ​for a local humanitarian ceasefire in Kostiantynivka, a hotly contested city in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, saying it reflected Moscow’s inability to take the city by force. Civilians there ‌have already ⁠had the opportunity to evacuate, he added.

“Putin simply wants us to leave Kostiantynivka so that they can move in and occupy the entire city that way,” he said.

Ukraine has given a list of seven or eight other frontline settlements where civilians, including children, are trapped for a potential humanitarian truce but Russia prefers to use them as military targets, Zelenskyy said.

Moscow denies deliberately targeting civilians in the war.