US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected the claim by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Washington would only provide Ukraine with security guarantees once Ukrainian military control over Donetsk region territory was relinquished. Rubio called this assertion untrue but admitted that guarantees can be granted only after active hostilities end.
Regarding the cessation of hostilities, the US only relays Moscow’s conditions to Kyiv and does not set demands for Ukraine. However, US diplomats have repeatedly raised the possibility that granting guarantees may be tied to a withdrawal from Donbas.
This stance reflects a persistent expectation: without a decision on Donbas, war will not end and no security guarantees will be given. Still, this logic is flawed since withdrawal would unlikely bring peace and might trigger additional Russian demands.
The Trump administration often facilitated Russian interests, such as blocking the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine at the US’s insistence.
A notable example is a tense exchange at a G7 meeting between Rubio and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who openly questioned when the US would pressure Russia to end the war. Rubio insisted the US is doing all it can and that Europe can also engage in conflict resolution.
The US also softened sanctions against Russia amid an energy crisis, partly caused by the Trump administration’s preparation for conflict with Iran.
Such statements by the Secretary of State may impact relations between Kyiv and Washington, especially with public accusations of dishonesty toward Zelensky. Experts note that real peace needs not just negotiations but pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine.
