'Just the tip': Zelenskyy exposes US stance on Donbas condition
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy (president.gov.ua)
Ukraine will receive security guarantees from the United States only after the war ends, which is currently tied to the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donbas, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during an online briefing with the press.
“Tip of the iceberg” in negotiations
According to the president, the situation around future guarantees is far more complex than what is discussed publicly.
“As they say, most of the iceberg is not visible. Believe me, I have shown only a small part. I’m speaking absolutely openly. It can be framed in different ways,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine’s proposal and US rejection
Zelenskyy said Kyiv had предложило Washington a compromise — to sign security guarantees before the war ends.
The idea was to prepare the documents in advance so that the US Congress could finalize and approve them at the final stage of the conflict.
However, the American side rejected the proposal, insisting that both the signing and the provision of guarantees are possible only at the moment of a full ceasefire.
“I said they would not take effect immediately, so there is nothing to fear… But we were told the issue is not when they come into force, but when these guarantees are given to us,” the president explained.
Condition of withdrawal from Donbas
At present, the key condition for ending the war and receiving US guarantees remains the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donbas. This is linked to Russia’s ultimatum demanding control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
“Guarantees will be given only after we withdraw from the Donbas. This is currently the condition for ending the war,” Zelenskyy said.
What is known about the US position
As a reminder, Zelenskyy had previously disclosed details of what he described as a tough US condition requiring Ukraine to withdraw troops from the Donbas in order to receive security guarantees. According to him, the administration of Donald Trump is currently pursuing a strategy of increasing pressure on Kyiv.
At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Zelenskyy’s interpretation of an ultimatum to withdraw from the Donbas in exchange for guarantees “false,” saying Washington had a different approach to ending the war.
In addition, Zelenskyy allowed the possibility that the United States could redirect weapons intended for Ukraine to the Middle East. For now, there have been no such signals, but he named a key factor that would influence that decision.
