White House denies that security guarantees for Ukraine depend on Ukrainian Armed Forces' retreat from Donbas - Reuters

The United States is acting as a mediator to bring Ukraine and russia together to conclude a peace deal. Washington is not demanding any territorial concessions from Ukraine, Anna Kelly, the deputy White House press secretary, said. Her words were reported by Reuters on Tuesday, January 27.

Kelly denied a report by the Financial Times that the administration of US President Donald Trump is allegedly pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to agree to the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donbas in exchange for security guarantees from the US.

"This is totally false — the US's only role in the peacemaking process is to bring both sides together to make a deal," the deputy White House press secretary said.

In addition, a person familiar with the US position told Reuters that Washington "is not trying to force any territorial concessions upon Ukraine." According to the person, security guarantees depend on both sides agreeing to a peace deal.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on January 25, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the documents on the United States' security guarantees for Ukraine are fully prepared and are waiting for signing.

On January 24, the Italian edition of Corriere della Sera wrote that Ukraine was offered to give up the part of the Donbas it controls in exchange for USD 800 billion and security guarantees.

In late December 2025, Zelenskyy said that the United States offered Ukraine a security guarantee agreement for 15 years.