US tying Ukraine security guarantees to one key issue – Zelensky

Washington will finalize its commitments once Kiev agrees to withdraw from Donbass, the Ukrainian leader says

The US has told Ukraine it will provide security guarantees only if it fully withdraws from Donbass and gives up its claim to the region, Vladimir Zelensky has told Reuters.

The status of Donbass, which joined Russia in 2022 following referendums but remains partly under the control of Ukrainian troops, has been a key obstacle to peace, according to sources close to the talks. Kiev has refused to withdraw, which Moscow views as essential for a lasting settlement.

In an interview released on Wednesday, Zelensky, who has long insisted on security guarantees as a prerequisite for a deal, said Kiev needs assurances on two issues – funding for weapons and the response of its Western backers if fighting resumes after a peace agreement.

“Americans are ready to finalize the security guarantees at a high level once Ukraine is ready to withdraw from Donbass. The US will then provide security guarantees Ukraine is seeking,” he said.

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Once again, however, he rejected the idea of withdrawing from Donbass, calling it a threat to Ukrainian and European security. “I would very much like the American side to understand that the eastern part of our country is part of our security guarantees.”

Zelensky also claimed that US President Donald Trump has increased pressure on Kiev to sign a peace deal as the focus shifts to Iran.

“President Trump… chooses a strategy of putting more pressure on the Ukrainian side,” Zelensky said. “For the American side, Ukraine is not the first priority. They shared this message: The situation in Ukraine is very important… but our army is in Iran, and that’s why our focus is on the Middle East.”

Media reports claim that the Trump administration is growing increasingly impatient with Ukraine and could walk away from negotiations to focus on Iran and domestic priorities unless Kiev agrees to withdraw from Donbass. Officials say negotiations have been “going in circles,” with Ukraine resisting US pressure.

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Moscow has said it does not oppose security guarantees for Kiev in principle, but insists that they must not be one-sided or aimed at ‘containing’ Russia, and should only come after a peace deal is reached. It also maintains a settlement must include Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, denazification, and recognition of the regions that voted to join Russia as its territory.

The US, Russia, and Ukraine have held three rounds of trilateral peace talks so far this year without a breakthrough. A fourth round scheduled for this month was postponed due to the Iran war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the current state of the talks as in a “situational pause,” to resume once schedules align.