The Financial Times reported that U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine may be conditional on Kyiv accepting a peace deal likely requiring ceding the Donbas, citing eight people familiar with talks. Washington reportedly offered additional weapons if Ukraine withdrew forces from parts of the east it controls, though Reuters could not verify the claim. The White House denies forcing territorial concessions; Zelenskiy says a U.S. security-guarantee draft is "100% ready" and Kyiv awaits signing.
FT: U.S. Ties Security Guarantees To Donbas Deal; White House Denies Forcing Concessions
A serviceman of the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces walks next to a Humvee covered with a makeshift anti-drone protection at a training ground near a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine January 22, 2026. REUTERS/Serhii Korovainyi
Jan 27 (Reuters) — The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that the Trump administration signalled to Kyiv that U.S. security guarantees could be conditional on Ukraine accepting a peace settlement likely to require ceding the Donbas region to Russia, citing eight people familiar with the discussions.
According to the FT, Washington also suggested it might supply additional weapons to strengthen Ukraine's peacetime armed forces if Kyiv agreed to withdraw troops from parts of the eastern region it currently controls. Reuters could not immediately verify the newspaper's account.
A U.S. source familiar with the matter told Reuters the United States was not trying to force territorial concessions upon Ukraine. The source added that Washington's position is that security guarantees depend on both sides agreeing to a peace deal, and that the concrete terms would be decided by Russia and Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that a U.S. draft on security guarantees was "100% ready" and that Kyiv is awaiting a time and place to sign the document. Zelenskiy has repeatedly said any peace settlement must preserve Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Anna Kelly, Deputy White House Press Secretary: "This is totally false — the US's only role in the peacemaking process is to bring both sides together to make a deal."
The Financial Times reported a senior Ukrainian official saying Kyiv is increasingly uncertain whether Washington will follow through on security guarantees, noting that U.S. officials have repeatedly delayed finalising the agreement. The FT account said U.S. officials believe Ukraine may need to cede the Donbas for hostilities to end and are not pressing Russian President Vladimir Putin to abandon that demand.
The Kremlin, speaking after talks in Abu Dhabi, said the question of territory remains central to any deal to halt the fighting, the TASS news agency reported.
(Reporting by Bipasha Dey in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Michael Perry and Franklin Paul)
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