Volodymyr Zelensky says the United States has asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from the eastern Donbas region in return for NATO membership.
US envoys have been holding talks with Russia and Ukraine in a latest bid to bring about peace. Zelensky said that, if he received an official proposal that contained security guarantees, no constraints on Ukraine's military and funds to rebuild the country, he would put the suggestion to a referendum.
First time question raised
"The Americans raised a question: 'What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?' This was the first time this had been raised," Zelensky said.
He also stated: "If the American side confirms precisely this to us, together with other NATO partners, then I will ask our Ukrainian society what it thinks: do we accept it or not?"
Red lines on territory and neutrality
Zelensky stressed that any arrangement would not involve recognizing occupied territories as Russian and he rejected the possibility of Ukraine committing to neutrality, saying that would require changing the country's constitution.
"If Putin expects Ukraine's neutrality to be enshrined, that's not going to happen," he said. "We're not in NATO right now anyway."
Zelensky told how Ukraine has already been discussing a full security package with its partners that would give specific guarantees from NATO and EU. It would also ensure a strong Ukrainian military, financial support for a specified period and a recovery plan, he said.
Concerns over European security framework
Meanwhile, the United States had also raised the possibility of a new security framework for Europe as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine, said Zelensky - who warned that Moscow could use such discussions to weaken NATO and reshape the continent's borders.
"In my view, this can be dangerous," he told reporters, referring to the new security framework. "This should not be the main agenda."
He said he believed Moscow was interested in reopening broader questions about European security rather than focusing exclusively on ending the four-year war.
"Putin's desire to change borders in Europe is a fact. I am sure this is part of his concept of revising security guarantees in Europe," he said. "This is dangerous because, in my view, it is precisely things like this that lead to wars or escalations."
Talks continue
After two days of talks with Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Abu Dhabi last week, US envoys briefed Putin in the Kremlin and Zelensky, who was in Dublin, Ireland, to meet European leaders.
More talks are planned as negotiators seek a breakthrough in peace efforts, according to US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
