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The United States proposes the Donbass in exchange for NATO

Washington proposes trading a Ukrainian withdrawal from Donbas for NATO membership, an idea that Kyiv officially rejects and that Paris condemns.

france, guerre, ukraine, unis, donbass, otan, retrait ukrainien, états-unis

Key facts

  • The issue touches on a line that Kyiv has not crossed. Despite nearly five years of conflict, Ukraine has always officially refused to cede any part…
  • The Donbas is a region in eastern Ukraine, partially occupied by Russia, where fighting has raged since the start of the war. According to the…
  • The United States has put forward a proposal to end the war in Ukraine: a Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donbas in exchange for NATO membership. The…

The issue touches on a line that Kyiv has not crossed. Despite nearly five years of conflict, Ukraine has always officially refused to cede any part of its territory to Russia, regardless of the trade-offs, including the one it cares about most: joining NATO.

The Donbas is a region in eastern Ukraine, partially occupied by Russia, where fighting has raged since the start of the war. According to the reports, this was the first time this question had been raised.

The United States has put forward a proposal to end the war in Ukraine: a Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donbas in exchange for NATO membership. The offer is drawing strong reactions.

The American formula, Donbas for NATO, has also drawn condemnation from the Europeans, and notably from France.

Accused of wanting to achieve peace at any cost, the American envoys indicated that the proposal was, for the time being, only a working step.

Dig deeper

What is the Donbas?

It is an industrial region in eastern Ukraine, bordering Russia, part of which is occupied by Moscow and where the fighting has been concentrated since the start of the war.

What is NATO, and why does Kyiv want to join it?

NATO is the Western military alliance founded on collective defense; Ukraine, which is not a member, sees it as a guarantee against Russia.

Why is France reacting to this formula?

France, a NATO member and an ally of Kyiv, believes along with other Europeans that Ukrainian territory cannot be traded for membership that would commit the entire alliance.

What is at stake for Ukraine?

Accepting a withdrawal from the Donbas would mean ceding part of its territory, a line that Kyiv officially refuses to cross, even to join NATO.

Is this American proposal an agreement?

No: for now, U.S. envoys present it as a working step, not as a definitive settlement of the war.

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