Zelensky and Washington clash over Donbas withdrawal claims
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Monday that Donald Trump’s team is seeking a swift end to the war by demanding unilateral territorial concessions, a move he says endangers national security.
In an interview with Axios on March 30, Zelenskyy questioned why Ukraine should "pay the price" for a conflict it did not start. He alleged that the Trump administration views the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops as the only way to stop Vladimir Putin.
U.S. denials and security guarantees
The statement follows a public disagreement between Kyiv and Washington. On March 25, Zelenskyy told Reuters that the U.S. had proposed security guarantees only on the condition that Ukraine retreats from the Donbas region.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed these claims as "false" on March 27. Rubio clarified that Washington has not demanded territorial concessions and noted that security guarantees are only possible after the war concludes.
No compromise on integrity
Zelenskyy has since clarified that while direct pressure has not been applied, the U.S. is linking future security ties to the status of eastern territories. He remains firm that Kyiv will not cede the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Speaking to Corriere della Sera earlier this month, the Ukrainian leader stated that retreating from Donbas would expose central Ukraine to further Russian aggression. He emphasized that such a move would abandon approximately 200,000 residents and fail to satisfy Kremlin ambitions.
The Russia-Iran axis
Beyond the U.S. diplomatic friction, Zelenskyy also alleged that Russia is providing "full support" to Iran. This cooperation reportedly includes sharing satellite imagery, a tactic previously used against Ukrainian forces.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
