Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that the United States is conditioning security guarantees on Kyiv ceding the Russian-occupied Donbas region. The offer, revealed in a recent interview, aims to facilitate a swift end to the ongoing conflict.
Zelensky warned that relinquishing Donbas would weaken Ukraine’s defenses and strengthen Russia’s position, potentially compromising the security of both Ukraine and Europe due to the region’s strong defensive capabilities. He expressed concern that such terms would embolden Moscow.
The Ukrainian President also noted that former President Trump is advocating for a quick resolution to the four-year war, initiated by Russia’s 2022 invasion, and is applying pressure on Ukraine to achieve this. Zelensky believes Trump “still chooses a strategy of putting more pressure on the Ukrainian side.”