Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that US negotiators have floated the idea of Ukraine withdrawing its remaining forces from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for Nato membership. This marks the first time Nato membership has been linked to territorial concessions, according to Zelensky.
A US official told the BBC that “many ideas continue to be discussed but any final deal will have to be agreed to by both parties.” US envoy Jared Kushner, who met with Zelensky on Friday, urged “confidentiality in a sensitive process,” noting that “maximalist” proposals and “strong political rhetoric” had emerged from the talks.
Zelensky reiterated on Friday that Ukraine is unwilling to give up its sovereign territory. However, he stated that he would put a specific proposal to a referendum if it included security guarantees, no constraints on Ukraine’s military, and funds for the country’s reconstruction.
Kushner and Steve Witkoff, another US envoy, traveled to Dublin, the Irish capital, on Friday to meet Zelensky, following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday.
Russia currently occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including most of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that comprise the Donbas. Russia has insisted it will not agree to a ceasefire until a final peace deal is in place, which would include Ukraine ceding control of parts of the Donbas not yet captured by Russian troops, in addition to the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014.
Comments from Putin and Kremlin officials suggest Russia’s stance on the war has not shifted. Russia has previously proposed limits on the size of Ukraine’s military, territorial concessions, and Kyiv’s guaranteed neutrality as conditions for a peace deal. Russia has also stated that another Nato member on its border is unacceptable and that a peace agreement must include provisions preventing Ukraine from joining the alliance.
Ukraine has long sought membership in the military alliance, but this has previously been opposed by the US and other Nato members. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Elections in Ukraine are currently suspended due to martial law, which has been extended until January 29, 2027. Ukrainian law does not permit presidential elections while martial law is in effect.
It remains unclear whether the US has made a formal offer regarding Nato membership in exchange for Donbas withdrawal. The specific details of the “security guarantees, no constraints on Ukraine’s military, and funds for the country’s reconstruction” mentioned by Zelensky are also not yet clear. Russia’s acceptance of such a proposal is uncertain, as is the stance of other European countries.
What happens next
US envoy Kushner said that "credible security guarantees for Kyiv and a detailed, workable post-war security arrangement that reduces the risk of another war are essential for lasting peace." Martial law in Ukraine is extended until January 29, 2027.
Why it matters for Nepal
Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Nepali citizens not to travel to Ukraine and has requested all Nepalis currently there to leave immediately. The Nepali Embassy in Berlin, Germany, issued a travel advisory on May 9, 2026, advising Nepali citizens to postpone travel plans to Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that efforts are underway to repatriate Nepali prisoners of war and other Nepali citizens. Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in mid-Baisakh to request assistance in repatriating Nepali prisoners of war, with the Ukrainian side responding positively, according to Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Kshetri. Nepali officials are in discussions with both Russian and Ukrainian authorities regarding the safety of Nepali citizens. Families of Nepalis killed while serving in the Russian army have been receiving compensation, with Kriti Bhandari, involved in the repatriation and compensation efforts, reporting that 42 individuals had received compensation by election time. Approximately 200 Nepalis have died while serving in the Russian army, and over 150 are missing. Nepal, as a member of the United Nations, upholds the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity and believes all member states must fully respect them. Nepal opposes the use of force against any sovereign country under any circumstances and advocates for the peaceful resolution of disputes through diplomacy and dialogue.
