Zelenskyy: USA insists on ceding Donbas to Russia in exchange for security guarantees for Ukraine
The United States has set a condition under which the provision of security guarantees necessary for a peace agreement in Ukraine depends on Kyiv ceding the entire eastern region of the country, Donbas, to Russia, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said in an interview with Reuters.
Zelenskyy noted that now, as the US is focused on its own conflict with Iran, US President Donald Trump is putting pressure on Ukraine in an effort to quickly end the war.
"The Middle East has definitely has an impact on President Trump, and I think on his next steps. President Trump, unfortunately, in my opinion, still chooses a strategy of putting more pressure on the Ukrainian side," Zelenskyy said.
He has repeatedly stated that to prevent Russia from resuming military actions in the future if a peace agreement is reached, reliable security guarantees from international partners are required.
"The Americans are ready to finalize these guarantees at a high level once Ukraine is ready to withdraw troops from Donbas," Zelenskyy said, warning that such a withdrawal would jeopardize the security of both Ukraine and, consequently, Europe, as it would mean handing over strong defensive positions in the region to Russia.
