US pushes direct Russia-Europe talks as Ukraine says NATO membership back on table

US seeks Russia-Europe talks as Zelensky rejects recognizing seized land. (Photo/Reuters)

United States has suggested that Ukraine consider ceding territory to Moscow in exchange for accession to NATO, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed, declaring that his nation's relationship with the Western military alliance is "back on the agenda", while US envoy Jared Kushner said Washington’s focus is to facilitate direct talks between Moscow and Europe.

Speaking following trilateral meetings involving Washington, Moscow, and Kiev, Zelenskyy disclosed that American envoys raised the prospect during recent diplomacy: "The Americans raised a question: 'What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?' This was the first time this had been raised."

Zelenskyy insisted Kiev would never formally recognise seized land as Russian, stressing that Ukrainians would ultimately determine the acceptability of any negotiated settlement: "After providing Ukraine with this kind of defence support... they cannot simply let Ukraine go."

Direct European engagement

The revelations follow visits by Kushner and Steve Witkoff to both Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy after two days of talks in Abu Dhabi.

Kushner confirmed on Saturday that Washington is focused on facilitating direct engagement between European nations and Moscow.

European leaders moved swiftly on Friday in Dublin to select five nations—the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland—to send representatives to future rounds.

However, European leaders expressed scepticism over Moscow's push to reframe negotiations into establishing a new continental security framework.

Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky called for a "new, modern Yalta", but Germany's Friedrich Merz responded that such frameworks already exist.

French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned on Saturday that rationing aid would impose an "unjust peace", adding: "That is the spirit of defeat. That is a recipe for another war."

Zelenskyy warned that the Kremlin is "betting everything" on its winter military campaign, rejecting a Russian proposal for a humanitarian mission in Kostyantynivka as a pretext to capture more cities across the Donbas.

Meanwhile, Russian forces maintained intense pressure across the front line on Saturday, launching deadly strikes against the eastern city of Pavlohrad and targeting a village near Zaporizhzhia, roughly 32 kilometres from active fighting.

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Source: TRT