Rubio Condemns Zelensky’s Claims on Donbass Pressure

(MENAFN) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of lying about Washington pressuring Kiev to withdraw from Donbass. Zelensky had claimed in a recent interview that the US conditioned its security guarantees on Ukraine ceding all disputed territory in the region to Russia, and criticized the US for applying “more pressure on the Ukrainian side.”

Speaking to reporters at the G7 summit in Paris, Rubio rejected Zelensky’s statements, calling them a “lie” and insisting the Ukrainian leader knew they were untrue. He explained that security guarantees cannot take effect until the conflict ends, as otherwise the US would become directly involved in the war.

Rubio emphasized that US officials have only communicated Moscow’s position to Kiev, leaving decisions on concessions entirely up to the Ukrainian government. He framed Washington’s role as that of a mediator, attempting to understand both sides and find a potential compromise.

The top diplomat also indicated that some US military aid intended for Ukraine could be redirected if necessary due to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict in Iran, though no such reallocation has occurred so far.

Trilateral talks between the US, Russia, and Ukraine this year have failed to reach a resolution, with territorial disputes cited as the main obstacle. Kiev has consistently rejected concessions, while Moscow insists any settlement must acknowledge the regions that voted to join Russia.

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