US floated idea of Ukraine ceding Donbas for NATO membership, Zelenskiy says
KYIV, Nov 14 -
asserted
Zelenskiy → float → membership
US negotiators have floated the idea of Ukraine's potential withdrawal from its eastern region of Donbas in exchange for joining NATO, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, following the latest round of peace talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi.
asserted
Zelenskiy → float → Dhabi
This is the first time the question of linking NATO membership to territorial concessions has been raised during the talks, Zelenskiy said in remarks to reporters released by his office on Saturday.
asserted
Zelenskiy → link → Saturday
"The Americans raised a question: 'What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?" he said.
asserted
he → raise → Donbas
"That is why I believe NATO is back on the agenda.
asserted
NATO → believe → agenda
But you have also heard (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's signals, and this is an extremely difficult conversation."
asserted
this → hear → signals
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.
asserted
membership → say → 2022
Zelenskiy 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.
asserted
he → reiterate → referendum
THIS WAR MUST BE ENDED FIRST'
asserted
WAR → end → ?
Echoing comments made by European leaders at a summit in Dublin on Friday, Zelenskiy 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.
asserted
specifics → echo → 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.
asserted
We → turn → war
This war must be ended first," he said.
asserted
he → end → ?
Zelenskiy 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.
asserted
it → dismiss → force
Civilians there have already had the opportunity to evacuate, he added.
asserted
he → have → opportunity
"Putin simply wants us to leave Kostiantynivka so that they can move in and occupy the entire city that way," he said.
asserted
he → want → city
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, Zelenskiy said.
asserted
Zelenskiy → give → targets
Moscow denies deliberately targeting civilians in the war.
asserted
Moscow → deny → war
LARGE PRISONER EXCHANGE AGREED
The two days of US-brokered talks between Ukraine and Russia concluded on Wednesday in the Emirati capital without a major breakthrough, though the sides agreed to a prisoner exchange that will involve more than 1,000 people, Zelenskiy said.
asserted
Zelenskiy → agree → people
The final numbers for the prisoner swap were still under discussion, he added.
asserted
he → add → discussion
US peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had pledged to raise an energy ceasefire with Putin at a meeting in Moscow on Thursday, Zelenskiy said, but there was no news of any progress after their talks.
asserted
Zelenskiy → pledge → talks
"Putin personally does not support a ceasefire," he said.
asserted
he → support → ceasefire
Zelenskiy met Witkoff and Kushner on Thursday in Ireland after their talks in Moscow.
asserted
Zelenskiy → meet → Moscow
He said the US negotiators had told him that all sides had agreed for Europe to have a seat at the negotiating table in forthcoming peace talks.
asserted
Europe → say → talks
In Abu Dhabi, delegates from Europe — which is now Ukraine's largest financial and military backer — had talks with US and Ukrainian officials but did not sit at the table with Russia.
asserted
which → have → Russia
At the summit in Ireland, EU leaders agreed that Europe's team for any Ukraine peace talks would comprise five major military powers — non-EU member Britain plus France, Germany, Italy and Poland — as well as EU officials.
asserted
team → agree → powers
The Aporia
