US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has refuted statements made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding security guarantees tied to the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donbas region. Rubio characterized Zelensky’s comments as “false,” asserting that Washington did not impose any conditions on Ukraine regarding troop movements.
“This is a lie. I saw him say that, and it is unfortunate that he is saying it because he knows it is not true,” Rubio stated. He emphasized that the discussions with Ukrainian officials had conveyed a different message, indicating that security guarantees would not take effect until the conclusion of the ongoing conflict.
Rubio clarified that the issue was not linked to any demands for concessions. “But it was not connected to the condition that ‘unless he gives up territory.’ I do not know why he is saying such things. It is simply not true,” he remarked.
On March 25, Zelensky had claimed that the United States conditioned security guarantees on Ukraine’s withdrawal of troops from Donbas. He noted that Washington was prepared to finalize these guarantees at a high level once Kyiv was ready to take that step, warning that such a move could jeopardize the security of both Ukraine and Europe.
In 2026, Ukraine, with the mediation of the US, engaged in several rounds of negotiations with Russia. However, the parties failed to reach an agreement on a ceasefire, as the aggressor nation demanded the surrender of unoccupied territories in Donbas, which Kyiv has refused.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied Ukrainian President Zelensky's claims about security guarantees linked to troop withdrawals from Donbas. Rubio emphasized that no conditions were set by Washington, contradicting Zelensky's assertions.