Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the United States has tied future security guarantees to a dramatic concession: Kyiv must pull its troops out of the Donbas.

The disclosure, reported by Reuters, exposes growing friction between Kyiv and Washington as negotiations over ending the war stall. Zelenskyy warned the demand risks weakening Ukraine’s defences and handing Russia a strategic advantage in eastern Europe.

Washington pressure mounts as talks stall

Zelenskyy said the proposal reflects a broader shift in strategy by US President Donald Trump.

“The Middle East definitely has an impact on President Trump and his next steps,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Washington appears to be applying increasing pressure on Ukraine rather than Moscow.

According to the Ukrainian leader, the United States is ready to formalise high-level security guarantees — but only if Ukrainian forces leave their positions in the contested Donbas region.

Kyiv warns withdrawal would hand Russia the battlefield

The demand strikes at the heart of Ukraine’s defensive strategy. Zelenskyy said abandoning the region would expose Ukraine and Europe to greater risk by giving Russia stronger defensive positions.

Military analysts say Moscow still faces a long and costly fight to capture the remaining Ukrainian-held parts of Donbas. The region includes a chain of heavily fortified cities known as the “Fortress Belt”, designed to slow or halt Russian advances.

Negotiations stuck on the core question: territory

Talks mediated by Washington have produced limited progress in 2026, mainly around mechanisms to monitor a possible ceasefire. But the ceasefire itself remains out of reach.

Russia continues to demand that Ukraine surrender the remaining parts of Donbas still under Kyiv’s control — a condition Ukraine has repeatedly rejected.

The US has floated the idea of turning the area into a free economic zone, but details remain vague and politically sensitive.

Zelenskyy rejects land-for-peace trade

Zelenskyy made clear Ukraine will not trade Donbas territory for peace or concessions elsewhere.

He argued Moscow may temporarily hold some occupied areas but insisted the long-term goal remains their liberation. Any final deal on borders, he added, will require direct talks between national leaders — the only forum capable of deciding Ukraine’s territorial future.

Security guarantees in exchange for Donbas: Zelenskyy reveals harsh US condition

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