The United States has told Ukraine that it must sign on to a peace deal with Russia in order to get U.S. security guarantees.
– U.S. security guarantees are considered by Ukraine as the linchpin for any settlement ending Russia’s four-year-old invasion of Ukraine.
– Trump administration has signalled to Ukraine that U.S. security guarantees depend on Kyiv agreeing to a peace deal, likely requiring it to cede the Donbas region to Russia.
– The United States is not telling Ukraine what has to be in the peace deal and that it is misleading to suggest that Washington is trying to force Ukraine into territorial concessions to Russia.
– Russia and Ukraine negotiators are to meet again on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, with possible participation by U.S. officials. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner came away from the talks last weekend optimistic that a deal could be reached soon.
– Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that a U.S. document on security guarantees for Ukraine was “100% ready” and Kyiv is now awaiting a time and place for it to be signed.
– Zelenskiy has consistently said that Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be upheld in any peace deal to end the war.
– Ukraine is increasingly uncertain whether Washington will commit to security guarantees.
– The Kremlin said on Monday the question of territory remained fundamental to any deal to end the fighting in Ukraine.