U.S. Links Security Guarantees to Ukraine Peace Deal Talks With Russia

The United States has reportedly told Ukraine that signing onto a peace agreement with Russia would be a prerequisite for receiving long-term U.S. security guarantees, according to a source familiar with internal discussions cited by Reuters. These guarantees are widely viewed by Kyiv as the cornerstone of any settlement aimed at ending Russia’s four-year-old invasion of Ukraine.

The issue comes as Washington continues to play a mediating role in peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. U.S.-brokered talks were held in Abu Dhabi last weekend, bringing together envoys from both sides. American officials involved in the discussions said progress was made toward a potential agreement, raising cautious optimism about the possibility of ending the prolonged conflict.

Reports from the Financial Times suggested that the Trump administration has signaled to Kyiv that U.S. security guarantees would depend on Ukraine agreeing to a peace deal, which could involve ceding the Donbas region to Russia. However, the Reuters source pushed back against that interpretation, stating that the United States is not dictating the terms of any agreement and that it would be misleading to suggest Washington is forcing Ukraine into territorial concessions.

Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia are scheduled to meet again on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, with potential participation from U.S. officials. American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner reportedly left the previous round of talks optimistic that a deal could be reached in the near future.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that a U.S. document outlining security guarantees for Ukraine was “100% ready” and that Kyiv is awaiting confirmation of a time and place for it to be signed. Despite ongoing talks, Zelenskiy has repeatedly emphasized that Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be preserved in any peace agreement.

At the same time, Ukrainian officials have expressed growing uncertainty about Washington’s commitment. A senior Ukrainian official told the Financial Times that the United States “stops each time the security guarantees can be signed,” fueling concerns in Kyiv.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin reiterated that territorial issues remain central to any deal to end the fighting, according to Russia’s TASS news agency. As negotiations continue, the question of security guarantees and territorial integrity remains at the heart of efforts to resolve the Ukraine war.