U.S. Ties Ukraine Security Pact to Land Concession, Says Official

A senior Ukrainian official has claimed that American negotiators will only finalize a critical security agreement if Ukraine commits to withdrawing its military from the contested Donbas region. In comments to the Financial Times, the official stated that Washington "stops each time the security guarantees can be signed," directly linking the pact to a major territorial concession. The proposed bilateral agreement is intended to offer Ukraine long-term protection and support, similar to deals already signed with other allies. However, these alleged U.S. conditions reveal a significant point of tension in the negotiations. Ukraine has consistently stated that all its territory, including Donbas, must be returned. Linking a security deal to a withdrawal from this region would force Kyiv into an impossible choice between immediate guarantees and its core war aims. Neither the U.S. nor Ukrainian governments have publicly confirmed the FT report. The claim highlights the difficult compromises under discussion as the conflict continues.