Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that US President Donald Trump told him that for the US to provide security guarantees to Ukraine and end the four-year war with Russia, Ukraine must surrender Donbas to Moscow, in an interview with Reuters.
The Ukrainian leader argued that the US is essentially pressuring for an end to the war and is willing to provide security guarantees if Donbas is ceded to Russia – something he made clear he will not allow. Volodymyr Zelensky supported his position based on two pillars. First, he emphasized that surrendering Donbas would be a move that would endanger the security of both Ukraine and the rest of Europe.
He then underlined that even if Donbas were ceded to Russia, he is not certain this would prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from launching a new attack, therefore no one can guarantee an end to the war.
Middle East pressures Trump to close Ukrainian chapter, Zelensky emphasizes
The Ukrainian president made extensive reference to the Middle East war in his interview, expressing that developments there have a direct impact on Trump’s strategy, who will seek to pressure Ukraine to bring the war that began in 2022 with the Russian invasion to a close. “The Middle East certainly has an impact on President Trump and I think on his next steps. President Trump, unfortunately in my opinion, continues to choose a strategy of applying greater pressure on the Ukrainian side,” he characteristically told Reuters.
However, Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Donald Trump for providing Patriot systems, but made it clear that the quantity they have received is not what was desired and expressed concern about US defense equipment supplies due to what is happening with the war in Iran.
Zelensky was categorical that Donbas will not be surrendered, while making a dramatic appeal to Western allies to provide security guarantees in case Russia launches a new attack in the future even if peace is reached and the war ends. “The Americans are ready to finalize these guarantees at a high level once Ukraine is ready to withdraw from Donbas,” stated the 48-year-old leader, who added that he understands the “details” of the American position, although he had not directly participated in trilateral talks himself.
