Ukraine Says US Floated Trading Donbas for NATO Membership | DW News

Nov 14, 2026 | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says US envoys raised the idea of Ukraine handing over Donbas to Russia in return for joining NATO. The remarks come after US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and later held talks with Zelenskyy as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea if America put the feelers out to try and find a couple of real, qualified, experienced diplomats to solve this intractable problem. The West is dealing with a tough, determined, experienced, and intransigent man in Putin. Witkoff and Kushner are no match for him. Let us not forget that Witkoff and Kushner are real estate dudes, who have no experience in either international relations or international negotiations. When it comes to such negotiations, they are nothing but upstarts. — © Mark Alexander