MSI previously reported that Washington has been redirecting attention and resources as the U.S. pursues its war against Iran.
Rubio made his remarks Friday in Paris after a Group of Seven meeting, disputing Zelenskyy’s recent assertion that U.S. conditions would require Kyiv to hand over the eastern Donbas region to Russia in exchange for American security guarantees within any ceasefire plan. Speaking to reporters, Rubio rejected the premise and said the United States had not made the demand that Zelenskyy described.
Rubio specifically told reporters that “That’s a lie,” adding, “And I saw him say that. And it’s unfortunate he would say that because he knows that’s not true and that’s not what he was told.” He said his rebuttal reflects the substance of what the U.S. has discussed with Ukraine rather than any separate U.S. position.
Zelenskyy’s claim, as described by Rubio, traces to comments he made in an interview published this week with Reuters. In that account, Zelenskyy said the United States was making its offer of security guarantees for Ukraine contingent on the ceding of Donbas, the industrial heartland long sought by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy also characterized the broader context of U.S. priorities, saying Washington’s focus on its war against Iran is shaping the timeline for any end to the fighting.
Zelenskyy told Reuters that the Americans are prepared to finalize the guarantees at a high level “once Ukraine is ready to withdraw from Donbas,” even though Russian forces already occupy much of the region and have not seized a strip among the most heavily fortified parts of the front line, according to the reporting. The disagreement puts the two sides at odds over whether U.S. security guarantees are tied to Ukrainian withdrawal from territory Russia wants to secure.
Rubio denied Zelenskyy’s assertions and said the U.S. instead has “only passed along Russia’s demands.” He told reporters that the U.S. position is that security guarantees could only come after the fighting has ended and that Washington will keep pushing for a peace deal. Rubio also said the U.S. has not directed Ukraine to accept any Russian terms, saying, “We’ve never told them they have to take it or leave it.”
Rubio described the U.S. role as bridging positions rather than selecting a conclusion for Ukraine’s leadership. “We’ve explained it to them,” he said, “The role we have played is to try to figure out what both sides want, and see if we can bridge the middle ground.” The Ukrainian presidential office declined to comment on the discrepancy.
The dispute also intersects with Russia’s stated territorial objectives. Putin wants Kyiv to cede control of the entire Donbas region, and analysts believe that would give Moscow a permanent launchpad from which to threaten other parts of Ukraine, according to the Associated Press reporting. Rubio, for his part, said U.S.-Ukrainian talks were held last week in Florida and that no other meetings are scheduled as of now.
Rubio also addressed questions about U.S. weapons shipments amid the Iran war. He said no U.S. weapons have been pulled from sales bound for Ukraine to go to the Middle East instead, while adding that it could happen if deemed necessary. The Associated Press reported separately that American Patriot air-defense missiles have been moved from Europe toward the Middle East as Washington redirects resources to its war on Iran, and Zelenskyy has warned that Kyiv would “definitely” face shortages of Patriot systems because of the conflict with Iran.