Headlines
US links security guarantees for Ukraine to peace deal ceding Donbas, FT reports
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 27, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 27, 2026
Quick Summary
US security guarantees for Ukraine may hinge on ceding Donbas, raising concerns over territorial integrity. Zelenskiy seeks guarantees before concessions.
US Ties Security Guarantees for Ukraine to Potential Donbas Concessions
US Security Guarantees and Territorial Concessions
Jan 27 (Reuters) - The 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 Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing eight people familiar with the talks.
Zelenskiy's Stance on Territorial Integrity
Washington has also indicated it could offer Ukraine more weapons to strengthen its peacetime army if Kyiv agreed to withdraw forces from the parts of the eastern region it controls, the newspaper said.
US and Kremlin Perspectives on Peace Negotiations
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Implications for Ukraine's Military Support
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, a senior Ukrainian official told the Financial Times, saying the U.S. "stops each time the security guarantees can be signed."
Kyiv wants the guarantees confirmed before conceding any territory. However, the U.S. believes Ukraine must give up the Donbas for the war to end and is not pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin to drop that demand, the report added.
"This is totally false — the US's only role in the peacemaking process is to bring both sides together to make a deal," Anna Kelly, the deputy White House press secretary, told FT.
A person familiar with the U.S. position told the newspaper that Washington was "not trying to force any territorial concessions upon Ukraine," adding that security guarantees depend on both sides agreeing to a peace deal.
The Kremlin said on Monday the question of territory remained fundamental to any deal to end the fighting in Ukraine, the TASS news agency reported after weekend talks in Abu Dhabi.
(Reporting by Bipasha Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Michael Perry)
Key Takeaways
- •US security guarantees for Ukraine may require Donbas concessions.
- •Zelenskiy insists on Ukraine's territorial integrity in peace talks.
- •US offers more weapons if Ukraine withdraws from Donbas.
- •Kremlin sees territory as key to any peace agreement.
- •US denies pressuring Ukraine for territorial concessions.
Frequently Asked Questions about US links security guarantees for Ukraine to peace deal ceding Donbas, FT reports
1What is territorial integrity?
Territorial integrity refers to the principle under international law that nations should not promote secessionist movements or border changes in other nations. It emphasizes the inviolability of a state's borders.
2What are military support implications?
Military support implications refer to the potential consequences and outcomes of providing military assistance to a country, including impacts on regional stability, diplomatic relations, and internal security.
