US proposed Donbas swap for NATO membership - Zelensky

US negotiators have floated the idea of Ukraine's ⁠potential withdrawal from its eastern region of Donbas in exchange for joining NATO, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

This is the first time the question of linking NATO membership to territorial concessions has been raised during peace talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi, Mr Zelensky said in remarks to reporters released by his office.

"The Americans raised a question: 'What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas?" he said.

"That is why I believe NATO is back on the agenda. But you have also heard (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's signals, and this is an extremely difficult conversation."

He said Ukraine was discussing "specific security guarantees from NATO and the EU" and that if western countries confirmed them "then I will ask our Ukrainian society what it thinks: do we accept it or not? I have no right to make that decision on my own".

Mr Zelensky said the EU and NATO are Europe's only "real security", warning the Kremlin's bid to change the continent's security architecture could lead to more wars.

"This is dangerous because, in my view, it is precisely things like this that lead to wars or escalations," Mr Zelensky said.

"Real security in Europe means the EU and NATO. That's it. There is no other security in Europe."

Mr Putin has long said Ukrainian membership of NATO is a redline for Moscow, citing the issue as one reason for launching Russia's full-blown invasion in 2022.

Mr Zelensky 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.

'This war must be ended first'

Echoing comments made by European leaders at the EPC summit in Dublin, Mr Zelensky 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.

"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. This war ‌must be ended first," he said.

Mr Zelensky also dismissed Mr 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.

Civilians there have already ⁠had the opportunity to evacuate, he added.

"Putin simply wants us to leave Kostiantynivka so that they can move in and occupy the entire city that ‌way," he said.

Ukraine has given a list of seven or eight other frontline settlements where civilians, including children, are ⁠trapped fora potential humanitarian ‌truce but Russia prefers to use them as military targets, Mr Zelensky said.

Moscow denies deliberately targeting civilians in the 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, Mr Zelensky said.

The final numbers for the prisoner ⁠swap were still under discussion, he added.

US peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had pledged to raise an energy ceasefire with Mr Putin at a meeting in Moscow on Thursday, ⁠Mr Zelensky said, but there was no news of any progress after their talks.

"Putin personally does not support a ceasefire," he said.

Mr Zelensky met Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner on Thursday in Ireland after their talks in 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.

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.

Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky said Russia is "betting everything" on this winter's war campaign as he called for a US military package that would pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the fighting.

"They are betting everything on this winter," Mr Zelensky said. He said the US Congress adopting "sanctions and weapons" legislation would be "the kind of motivation Putin needs" to de-escalate.

Mr Zelensky's comments come as EU leaders agreed that Europe would be represented by the E5 - Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland - and the bloc's institutions at the next Ukraine peace talks.

European involvement in the peace talks would mark a new phase in efforts to end the nearly five-year-old conflict, which has defied attempts by US President Donald Trump to secure a peace agreement.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the "path to peace" in Ukraine will not be easy.

Speaking at the conclusion of the informal meeting of the EU Council in Dublin yesterday, she said: "The best way to get Russia to the table is to keep up our support for Ukraine and to keep maximum pressure on Russia.

"This is why we will soon propose our 22nd package of sanctions, and before the next European Council, the commission will come forward with a proposal to close the financing gap in Ukraine for 2027.

"Let me be clear, the path to peace will not be easy but we will remain united - as we've been over the last five years - in our support for Ukraine and with the end goal clear in our minds."