President Zelenskiy reveals US security guarantees are conditional on Ukraine handing over the entire Donbas region to Russia, a move he warns would compromise European security.
KYIV: The United States has made its offer of security guarantees for a peace deal conditional on Ukraine ceding the entire Donbas region to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Reuters.
He warned that abandoning the heavily fortified defensive line in Donbas would be a major security risk for Ukraine and Europe.
Zelenskiy said the US is applying pressure to end the four-year war quickly, influenced by its own conflict with Iran.
He stated that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin insists on controlling all of Donbas, which Moscow would try to achieve on the battlefield if not at the negotiating table.
The Ukrainian leader acknowledged that Russia is betting Washington will lose interest and walk away if peace talks stall.
He questioned whether Russia was willing to sacrifice hundreds of thousands more soldiers to capture the remaining 6,000 square kilometres of Donbas it does not control.
Zelenskiy said two vital questions on security guarantees remain unresolved regarding funding for weapons and the exact allied response to future Russian aggression.
“The Americans are prepared to finalise these guarantees at a high level once Ukraine is ready to withdraw from Donbas,” he said.
He added that he understood the “subtleties” of the American position, though he had not participated directly in the trilateral talks held this year in Abu Dhabi and Geneva.
“I would very much like the American side to understand that the eastern part of our country is part of our security guarantees,” Zelenskiy said.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Zelenskiy said a summit with Trump, Putin and himself was the only way to settle outstanding questions on territory and security guarantees to clinch a peace deal.
He shrugged off past tensions with Trump, stating the US president likely wants the war to end quickly.
Following recent Russian bombardment, Zelenskiy thanked the Trump administration for maintaining supplies of Patriot missile defence systems despite increased demand due to the Iran conflict.
“Deliveries to us were not stopped. I’m very grateful to President Trump, and to his team,” he said.
He added, however, that the supply of Patriot missiles is not as large as Ukraine needs.
Zelenskiy also said Ukraine was making progress in producing its own long-range missiles and drones.
This allows it to strike deep within Russia in retaliation for air strikes on Ukrainian cities.
The Sun Malaysia
