The Ukrainian leader revealed that the U.S. made an initial offer for Ukraine to cede territory in the Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership, while Russia rejected a ceasefire on energy targets.
On Saturday, 14 Nov 2026 GMT+7, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a statement saying that the United States made a first-time proposal for Ukraine to cede land to Russia in exchange for joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), adding that Russia refused a ceasefire targeting energy infrastructure.
The U.S. made this proposal during trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, questioning whether Ukraine would withdraw forces from the Donbas region—which includes Donetsk and Luhansk provinces—if allowed to join NATO.
Zelensky responded that if Western countries guarantee clear security assurances from NATO and the European Union (EU), he would consult the Ukrainian people on the matter, as he does not have the authority to decide alone.
So far, the Russia-Ukraine negotiations over two days in Abu Dhabi have made no significant progress, with only an agreement that European officials will be involved in future talks.
Meanwhile, Russia rejected a ceasefire proposal on energy targets discussed during the talks but suggested a humanitarian ceasefire in Kostyantynivka in Donetsk province. However, Zelensky viewed this as a ploy to pressure Ukrainian forces to withdraw, enabling Russia to seize full control of the city.
The Ukrainian leader's statement also said Russia is "betting everything" on its winter military operations in the war in Ukraine, warning that Russia's demands to restructure European security are "dangerous" and could lead to war or further escalation. He emphasized that only the EU and NATO provide true security guarantees for Europe.
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Source:cna