FT: US links security guarantees to Ukraine with loss of Donbas. The White House denies it

Administration of the President of the United States Donald Trump has allegedly made it clear to Ukraine that the provision of American security guarantees depends on Kyiv first agreeing to a peace agreement, which will likely include the transfer of the entire Donetsk region to Russia. At the same time, the White House denies this. This was reported by the British newspaper Financial Times citing eight people familiar with the negotiations.

Washington also suggested that it would promise Ukraine more weapons to strengthen its army in peacetime if it agreed to withdraw its troops from parts of the eastern region controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces. This, according to two of the interlocutors, is the price of peace with Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had hoped to sign documents on security guarantees and a post-war "prosperity plan" with the United States this month to gain leverage in future negotiations with Moscow. However, Washington is now signaling that US security guarantees are contingent on reaching an agreement with Russia, the newspaper notes.

According to unnamed Ukrainian officials, Kyiv is increasingly doubting Washington's willingness to take on these obligations, as "the US stops every time it comes to the point where security guarantees can be signed." The Ukrainian side also suggests that the Americans are "using the guarantees to push Ukraine to make concessions" that they believe could force "Russia to the negotiating table."

After Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy in Washington last month, U.S. officials said that the offer of U.S. security guarantees "will not be on the table forever." They did not provide further clarification, the Financial Times reports.

In response to a question about the conditions of territorial concessions put forward for security guarantees, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly called it "an absolute lie."

"The only role of the United States in the peace process is to bring the two sides together to make a deal," she emphasized.

Another person familiar with the US position noted that Washington "is not trying to impose any territorial concessions on Ukraine."

"The US has said that security guarantees depend on both sides agreeing to a peace deal, but the content of that deal depends on Russia and Ukraine," the unnamed person said.

The interlocutors emphasize that Ukraine wants to confirm US security guarantees before giving up any land. However, the United States believes that Kyiv must give up Donbas to end the war, and it does little to put pressure on the Russian dictator Vladimir Putinto give up one of his most stringent and constant demands.

• In August 2025, Zelensky emphasized that the Defense Forces will not leave Donbas within the framework of the so-called "exchange of territories" and emphasized that for the Russians it is a springboard for a new offensive.
• on December 8, he acknowledged that the most sensitive issues in the negotiations are the territories, in particular Donbas, and stated that Ukraine has no legal or moral right to give up their territories.
• on January 22, 2026, US President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said that the peace plan reduced to one questionbut he did not specify which one.
• The next day, Zelensky said that donbas is a key issue and will be discussed during the talks in the UAE.
• In the afternoon, the president said that before the talks began, he had discussed with the Ukrainian delegation the framework of the conversation, the topic and the desired results from trilateral dialog.
• january 23 Zelensky saidhe said that it was "too early to draw conclusions" about the content of the talks.