The United States has told Ukraine that signing a peace agreement with Russia is a condition for receiving U.S. security guarantees, a source familiar with internal discussions said on January 27th.
According to the Financial Times, the Trump administration has signalled that U.S. security guarantees would depend on Ukraine agreeing to a peace deal, which could involve territorial concessions, including the Donbas region.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday, January 25th that a U.S. document outlining security guarantees for Ukraine was “100% ready” and that Kyiv is awaiting arrangements for it to be signed. Zelensky has repeatedly stated that Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be preserved in any peace agreement.
Ukraine has nonetheless expressed uncertainty over Washington’s commitment. A senior Ukrainian official told the Financial Times that the United States repeatedly delays finalising security guarantees.
The issue was discussed following U.S.-brokered talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations held last weekend in Abu Dhabi. The Kremlin said that the Abu Dhabi talks were conducted in a “constructive spirit,” while cautioning that no immediate breakthroughs should be expected. Russian officials reiterated that territorial issues remain fundamental to any settlement. According to a U.S. official, trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are expected to resume in the United Arab Emirates on February 1st.
