US, Russia and Ukraine don’t have unified view on Donbas future, says Zelenskyy

Dec 8, 2025 - 19:05

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the countries involved in ongoing peace talks hold differing views regarding territories in the east of Ukraine. Russia has been demanding that Kyiv abandon the fight for two regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, even though it does not entirely control them, Bloomberg reports.

Instead, there are no guarantees that Russia won't attack again. Ukraine needs a resolution on this key issue. Ukraine had already received assurances on protection under the Budapest Memorandum in exchange for giving up its nuclear weapons in the 1990s, but did not receive shelter against aggression, which many Ukrainians regard as a betrayal.

“There are visions of the US, Russia and Ukraine — and we don’t have a unified view on Donbas,” Zelenskyy said.

No answer to the main question

The Ukrainian leader also stated that Kyiv insists on a separate security guarantees agreement with Western allies, primarily with the US.

“There is one question I — and all Ukrainians — want to get an answer to: if Russia again starts a war, what will our partners do,” Zelenskyy said.

Today, President Zelensky visited London, per the BBC. In the British capital, he met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

During the meeting, the British prime minister reaffirmed London’s unwavering support for Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron, in turn, emphasized that the Western coalition holds a strong position in negotiations, particularly as the Russian economy begins to experience challenges, especially following recent sanctions imposed by the EU and the US.