President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that US representatives for the first time directly asked whether Ukraine is ready to withdraw its troops from Donbas in the event of the country joining NATO. As reported by RBC-Ukraine, the head of state shared this during a conversation with journalists. According to him, the US side had not previously raised such a question, and its emergence became a new element in the negotiation track.

A question asked for the first time

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine's position regarding territorial integrity remains unchanged: the country, as he put it, is not retreating or handing over its lands. At the same time, he noted that the Americans formulated the question as a condition for the first time — would Ukraine exit Donbas if it received NATO membership? The President stressed that this question was asked for the first time and became a reason for further discussions with partners.

A comprehensive security package

The head of state shared that Ukraine is discussing a holistic security package with partners that could be proposed during negotiations. According to him, it includes specific security guarantees from NATO and the EU, a strong Ukrainian army with the corresponding number of personnel, weaponry, and financial support for a specific period, as well as a Prosperity Plan backed by funding with clear sources. Zelenskyy stated that if the US side confirms this package together with other NATO colleagues, he will bring the issue to the Ukrainian public for discussion, as he said he does not have the right to make such a decision alone. However, he emphasized that at the moment there are no specifics and all provisions remain in the discussion stage.

"Without recognizing occupied territories"

Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine will not recognize occupied territories as part of Russia under any circumstances. He stated that in case of receiving such a proposal, he will enter an open dialogue with society and explain where the country stands and how partners see the further course of events, but certainly — without recognizing the occupied territories by Russia. Thus, the issue of troop withdrawal, according to the president, is not synonymous with recognizing Russia's sovereignty over these territories.

Trust in Moscow and the role of NATO

Responding to questions about Russia's position, Zelenskyy stated that Moscow cannot be trusted, and its leader, according to him, is complicating mediation and delaying the end of the war. He added that the Russian leadership's statements about state borders do not, in his assessment, mean a reduction in Russia's territory. The President also noted that NATO membership would reduce the likelihood of renewed aggression against Ukraine and called the provision of security guarantees modeled on NATO's Article 5 a necessary minimum. At the same time, he expressed doubt that this would work guaranteed, pointing out that the Alliance had acted in unity, by his account, only once after the 2001 terrorist attack in the USA. However, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine can strengthen NATO and that the issue of membership is back on the agenda.

Context: Moscow's demands to the Alliance

Zelenskyy's statements came against the backdrop of reports that Russia, according to media, is once again demanding that NATO withdraw troops to the positions held by the Alliance in 1997 as part of its demands for a review of European security. The newspaper Bild also reported that to end the war in Ukraine, Russia is allegedly demanding Finland's withdrawal from NATO and a refusal to station bases in the Baltic states; however, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied this publication and stated that no such conditions were put forward. Thus, Moscow's public position on the specific composition of conditions remains contradictory and officially unconfirmed.