US negotiators raised the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing from the Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership during the latest round of peace talks in Abu Dhabi, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday.
Zelenskyy said it was the first time NATO membership had been linked to possible territorial concessions during the negotiations.
He reiterated that Kyiv is not prepared to give up territory, but said any wider agreement involving security guarantees, a strong Ukrainian military and reconstruction funding could ultimately be put to a national referendum.
Russia has long opposed Ukrainian membership of NATO, making the issue one of the most difficult elements of any potential settlement.
The latest US-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine concluded in Abu Dhabi without a major breakthrough, although the two sides agreed in principle to a prisoner exchange involving more than 1,000 people.
Zelenskyy also said future negotiations should include European representatives, after European officials held separate talks with US and Ukrainian delegates during the Abu Dhabi meetings.
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