Zelensky Rejects Revised U.S. Plan That Still Demands Ukraine Withdraw from Donbas

Background

The United States has been negotiating a new security assistance package for Kyiv that, according to officials, incorporates a “territorial compromise” on the contested Donbas region. The draft proposal reportedly urges Ukraine to withdraw its forces from areas held by Russian‑backed separatists in eastern Ukraine as a precondition for further American aid.

Ukrainian response

President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly rejected the latest version of the plan, stating that any demand for a Ukrainian pull‑out from Donbas is unacceptable. “Our sovereignty and territorial integrity are non‑negotiable,” he said in a televised address, adding that the proposal “fails to reflect the reality on the ground and the sacrifices of the Ukrainian people.”

European reaction and counter‑proposal

In solidarity with Kyiv, European leaders have drafted a counter‑proposal that emphasizes continued support for Ukraine’s full territorial claims, including Donbas and Crimea. The EU statement highlighted that “security assistance must not be weaponized as a tool for political concession.”

What comes next?

The United States is expected to review the European counter‑proposal while maintaining dialogue with both Washington and Kyiv. Analysts warn that any delay in reaching a consensus could jeopardize the flow of critical military aid, potentially affecting Ukraine’s ability to resist further Russian offensives in the east.