– What?American negotiators have suggested that Ukraine withdraw its remaining forces from the eastern region of Donbas in exchange for NATO membership. That’s what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made known.

His statement, made Saturday, comes after visiting American envoys to Moscow and participating in an EU summit in Dublin, under diplomatic efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, broadcast I did. tv

Kiev has long called for membership in NATO’s military alliance, considering it a guarantee to prevent future threats and an important condition for any peace agreement. On the other hand, Moscow has declared it cannot accept the membership of another NATO country at its borders.

Zelensky has repeatedly reiterated that Ukraine is not ready to give up its sovereign territories, despite Moscow’s demands for the surrender of Donbas.

The Americans raised a question: What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas? ) This was the first time such a case was being filed, Zelensky told reporters Saturday.

He added that if he received a proposal involving security guarantees, lack of restrictions for the Ukrainian Army and funds for the country’s reconstruction, he would submit it for approval through a referendum.

American envoys Jared Kouchner and Steve Whitoff traveled to Irish capital Dublin on Thursday, where they held a meeting with Zelensky. This visit came a day after talks they held in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin’s statements and Kremlin officials show that Russia’s stance on war remains unchanged. Moscow’s demands for territories and the neutrality of Ukraine continue to be much broader than what Kiev is willing to accept.

Russia has earlier called for limiting the size of the Ukrainian Army, territorial concessions and guarantees that Ukraine will remain neutral as conditions for reaching a peace agreement.

Ukraine has rejected these demands, arguing that such restrictions would weaken its ability to protect itself from a possible future invasion.

Recently, however, some signs have appeared that the parties can find common points. Last month, the first US lady, Melanie Trump, managed to mediate a temporary ceasefire in the Russian-invading town of Olesky to enable civilian evacuation and humanitarian aid delivery.

American officials had earlier declared that Ukraine’s NATO membership was not part of possible options.

But Zelensky said on Saturday the latest American proposal had made him believe NATO has returned to the table of discussion.

However, he warned, the road to an agreement remains difficult.

You’ve also heard Putin’s signals and this is an extremely difficult conversation, The Ukrainian president stressed.

By BBCCurrently, Russia controls about one fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including most of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which make up the Donbas region.

The handover of small parts of territory that Ukraine still controls in this region could constitute a relatively limited practice concession. From a political and symbolic point of view, however, it would be a decision of great consequences for Kiev, for it would imply the acceptance of Donbas as Russian territory.