Exclusive: US links security guarantees to Ukraine giving up Donbas, Zelenskiy says - Reuters

The Trump administration has linked potential U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine to Kyiv ceding control of the Donbas region to Russia, according to President Zelenskiy. This represents a significant shift in American negotiating posture, conditioning military and diplomatic support on territorial concessions that Ukraine has previously resisted. The proposal reflects the White House's push toward a negotiated settlement to end the nearly two-year-old conflict, though it pressures Zelenskiy to abandon claims to territory his forces have fought to defend. Such guarantees would likely include NATO membership protections or long-term military commitments, attempting to compensate Ukraine for lost land with formal security assurances. The proposal underscores the administration's priority on achieving a ceasefire over Ukraine's stated goal of full territorial restoration.