US ties Ukraine security guarantees to Donbas withdrawal, Zelensky says

President Zelensky says the US is linking post-war security guarantees for Ukraine to Kyiv's withdrawal from the Russian-occupied Donbas region, as the Trump administration accelerates efforts to end the conflict. Zelensky has publicly warned that surrendering territory would undermine Ukraine's defensive capacity and potentially encourage further Russian aggression. The statement reflects a fundamental disagreement between Washington and Kyiv over the terms for resolving the war—the US pushing for rapid settlement while Ukraine resists ceding control of disputed eastern territory. The dispute raises questions about the durability of American military support and the depth of the US commitment to Ukraine's long-term security. Both sides continue military aid deliveries, but the underlying tension over war termination suggests difficult negotiations ahead.