Ukraine war, latest news. Zelensky: US proposes NATO membership in exchange for the cession of Ukrainian territories
US President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have begun preparations for what could become the largest prisoner exchange since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine
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Nyt: Russia proposes NATO withdrawal to pre-1997 positions, modelled on the Warsaw Pact
Two months before the invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Russia had put forward a series of demands, including the withdrawal of NATO troops from the positions they had occupied in 1997, before the Western alliance expanded towards Russia’s borders. Now, in this week’s negotiations, the Russians have reiterated that position, in some cases word for word. This is according to The New York Times, which has obtained a copy of a document circulated by Russian officials. Russia’s demands that NATO withdraw its forces from its eastern flank in Poland and the Baltic states place the issue of European security at the heart of the negotiations on Ukraine. They also clarify the objective underlying Putin’s public statements. The Russian leader has repeatedly insisted that what he calls the ‘root causes’ of the war – Russia’s wide-ranging grievances against both NATO and Ukraine – must be addressed before hostilities can cease. The document also highlights how the economic incentives offered to Putin by Trump’s envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, have not yet led to any concessions from Moscow. The Russian document, dated 10 November, provides new details on the hardline stance adopted by the Kremlin during this week’s talks in Abu Dhabi. The document sets out Russia’s initial position and, according to two people involved in the talks, the Russian officials present at the negotiations have indicated that Putin may still show flexibility. Russian officials in Abu Dhabi made it clear that they view the Cold War and the Warsaw Pact as a model for Europe once the war in Ukraine has ended. The Russians argued in Abu Dhabi that the separate US and Soviet spheres of influence of that era, and the communications and agreements that stemmed from them, actually reduced the risk of conflict. The Americans, however, urged the Russians to look to the future.
Ukraine: the negotiating team comprises EU institutions, NATO and five countries (including Italia)
from our correspondent Beda Romano
DUBLIN – After much back-and-forth, the European Union has decided that, in the forthcoming diplomatic talks between Ukraine and Russia aimed at finding a solution to the war that broke out in 2022, it will be represented by four member states, the European Council and the European Commission. It remains to be seen whether the Kremlin will be satisfied with this solution. A new round of negotiations could take place as early as two weeks’ time, again in Abu Dhabi.
The four member states are Germany, France, Italia and Poland. They will be joined by representatives of the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, as well as representatives from the United Kingdom and NATO. “We are fully committed to supporting the ongoing process and hope that it will yield concrete results,” Mr Costa himself explained at a press conference following a European summit here in Dublin.
Zelensky: The US is proposing NATO membership in exchange for the cession of Ukrainian territories
“I have repeatedly stated that Ukraine will not surrender and will not cede its territories to terrorists,” said Zelensky, according to Ukrinform. “The Americans asked me: ‘If Ukraine were to join NATO, would it withdraw from the Donbas?’” This was the first time. We are discussing with our partners a comprehensive security package that they can offer us during the negotiations: specific security guarantees from NATO and the EU, a strong Ukrainian army – which means an adequate number of soldiers, weaponry and financial support for a certain period of time – and the Prosperity Plan, that is, a recovery plan backed by funds from clearly identified sources. If the American side confirms this to us, together with our other NATO colleagues, then I will seek the opinion of our society: do we accept it or not? I do not have the right to do so at my own discretion. But we need details, which are not currently available, and all of this is under discussion’, Zelenskyy stated. At the same time, the president reiterated that he would not recognise the temporarily occupied territories as Russian. “Naturally, without any recognition of the territories occupied by Russia. Yesterday I told my American counterpart: ‘When Putin talks about state borders, he certainly isn’t referring to a reduction in Russian territory, is he? That is why there is no trust in our comrade in the Kremlin.’ And the way he behaves and what he says only serves to complicate the entire American mediation process and delay the end of the war,” the head of state emphasised.
