---
title: "Zelenskyy: US for First Time Raises Ukraine's NATO Membership in Exchange for Donbas, Prepares 'Thousand for Thousand' Swap"
description: "Zelenskyy outlined preparations for a 'thousand for thousand' prisoner exchange, Europe joining talks, and the US raising NATO membership in exchange for Donbas for the first time."
date: 2026-11-14T10:12:56.715Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-nato-donbas-prisoner-swap-talks
tags: [ukraine, nato, zelensky, prisoner-exchange, peace-talks, denmark-aid]
author: "Andrey Kosynko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Zelenskyy: US for First Time Raises Ukraine's NATO Membership in Exchange for Donbas, Prepares 'Thousand for Thousand' Swap

![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking during a meeting with media about peace talks](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/14/zelensky-glavnoe-o-peregovorah-nato-donbas-obmen-plennymi/zelensky-glavnoe-o-peregovorah-nato-donbas-obmen-plennymi-1.webp)

## Key Points

- US for the first time raised Ukraine's NATO membership in exchange for withdrawing from Donbas; no concrete proposal yet
- A prisoner exchange format of 'more than a thousand for more than a thousand' (1,200–1,300 people) has been agreed
- Europe will join trilateral talks: 3 to 5 representatives to be determined by the end of November
- Denmark allocated a €645m package; November 19 in Berlin to discuss PAC-2/PAC-3, F-16s, and winter energy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a meeting with journalists, summed up a series of contacts with Western partners and disclosed details on preparations for a new phase of peace talks. Key topics included a large-scale prisoner exchange in a 'more than a thousand for more than a thousand' format, Europe joining the trilateral negotiation format, and the US side raising for the first time the question of Ukraine's potential NATO membership in exchange for withdrawing from Donbas territories. The Head of State also reported on new military and energy aid packages and the testing of satellite communication alternatives.

### Denmark's Package and the FREYJA Program

According to Zelenskyy, Denmark has allocated a €645 million support package to Ukraine, which includes 20mm ammunition for F-16 fighter jets to intercept Shahed drone swarms, about €200 million for drone production, funding for co-production, and a separate energy package for the Kherson region. An agreement was also reached to supply Ukraine with 800,000 F-16 shells over six months. Discussions with the Nordic bloc (N5) focused on support for the next year, air defense systems, and the advancement of the FREYJA anti-ballistic program, under which, according to the President, a Danish radar, a Ukrainian launcher, and a missile are already ready. Meanwhile, the PURL program, he noted, requires additional partner contributions.

### Satellite Communications and Alternatives

Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine is testing alternative satellite communication options together with France, Norway, Denmark, and Finland, with Germany also joining the effort. This is directly related to the previously highlighted issue of satellite internet terminal speed restrictions, which affects both civilian and military communications.

### Air Defense, Aviation, and Winter Energy

At the upcoming Ramstein format meeting and the 'Coalition of the Willing' meeting in Berlin on November 19, Ukraine expects decisions regarding PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles, F-16 fighter jets, and winter energy packages for cities. Zelenskyy emphasized that the need for aircraft simultaneously airborne is 2.5 times greater than the current number due to constant fleet maintenance cycles. Separately, he pointed out the need for energy packages for Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia — diesel, gasoline, generators, and buses in case public electric transport is reduced. The Cabinet of Ministers, he said, will cooperate with the European Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Centre in case of blackouts.

### 'Thousand for Thousand' Prisoner Exchange

Ukraine has supported the principle of an 'all for all' exchange. Following the US delegation's trip to Moscow, the President stated that a format of 'more than a thousand for more than a thousand' has been agreed upon, with the exact number currently estimated between 1,200 and 1,300 people.

### Europe at the Negotiation Table

The US and Russia have agreed to Europe joining the trilateral negotiation format. By the end of November, European partners must determine their representatives — presumably 3 to 5 individuals representing Europe as a whole — whose final composition will be approved by Ukraine. 'Next time Europe will not be in the next room, but at the same negotiation table, and we will have a common agenda,' Zelenskyy noted.

### Donbas Issue and NATO Membership

Zelenskyy shared that US negotiators raised for the first time the issue of Ukraine withdrawing from Donbas in exchange for NATO membership: 'The Americans asked the question: „What if Ukraine is in NATO, will Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?“ This was for the first time.' He stressed that Ukraine does not recognize occupied territories as Russian and will only submit the issue to public discussion as part of a comprehensive package featuring specific guarantees from NATO and the EU, funding for a strong army, and a recovery plan. When asked about guarantees similar to NATO's Article 5, the US side reportedly clarified that it refers to bilateral agreements without stationing American troops in Ukraine; however, Zelenskyy stated that full NATO membership, supported in particular by France, Denmark, and the Nordics, is a real preventive defense.

### Security Architecture and Truce

Zelenskyy stated that Russia refuses an energy ceasefire or any other truce, and 'Putin personally does not support a ceasefire.' He cautioned against attempts to revise Europe's security architecture before the war ends, outlining the sequence: first a ceasefire and the end of the war, then Ukraine's security guarantees, and only after that broader discussions. 'It seems that in 2021 Putin brought precisely this idea to Biden: a redistribution of power in Europe and the world, the weakening or withdrawal of NATO troops, the withdrawal of American troops. Any such changes are very dangerous,' the President explained.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [НАТО в обмен на Донбасс, архитектура безопасности и обмен: главное о переговорах от Зеленского](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/nato-obmin-donbas-arhitektura-bezpeki-ta-1794650585.html) - Primary source: full list of Zelenskyy's statements (Denmark €645m package, FREYJA/PURL, satellite comms, exchange of 1200–1300, Europe 3–5 reps, NATO/Donbas issue, security architecture).
- [США впервые предложили Украине членство в НАТО в обмен на выход из Донбасса – Зеленский](https://ru.slovoidilo.ua/2026/11/14/novost/politika/ssha-vpervye-predlozhili-ukraine-chlenstvo-nato-obmen-vyxod-donbassa-zelenskij) - Confirms the US raised the NATO-for-Donbas issue for the first time with no concrete proposal yet; Kyiv is discussing a comprehensive security package and Prosperity Plan.
- [Михал: архитектура безопасности в Европе действует очень хорошо, и не России это обсуждать](https://rus.err.ee/1610195620/mihal-arhitektura-bezopasnosti-v-evrope-dejstvuet-ochen-horosho-i-ne-rossii-jeto-obsuzhdat) - Context: according to Bild, the Kremlin demands Finland's withdrawal from NATO and bases out of the Baltics; Europe will be represented by France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the UK, and EU institutions. Consistent with European participation.
- [Путину — Донбасс, Украине — обещания НАТО: что не так с новым мирным планом Европы](https://focus.ua/eksklyuzivy/771835-mirnye-peregovory-po-ukraine-donbass-v-obmen-na-nato-i-dva-scenariya-zaversheniya-voyny) - Context: Europe is preparing for direct talks; two scenarios for ending the war are on the table. Confirms the negotiation track framework.

## FAQ

### What did the US propose to Ukraine regarding Donbas for the first time?

According to Zelenskyy, the US side raised the question for the first time of whether Ukraine would agree to withdraw from Donbas in exchange for NATO membership. There is no concrete proposal at this stage.

### In what format is the prisoner exchange being prepared?

A format of 'more than a thousand for more than a thousand' has been agreed, with the exact number ranging between 1,200 and 1,300 people.

### When and where will air defense and energy issues be discussed?

At the Ramstein meeting and the 'Coalition of the Willing' meeting in Berlin on November 19, Ukraine expects decisions regarding PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles, F-16 jets, and winter energy packages for cities.