US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Accuses President Zelenskyy of Lying Over Donbas Demands

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of lying after Zelenskyy claimed in a Reuters interview that Washington had made the cession of the entire Donbas region to Russia a precondition for providing Ukraine with security guarantees. Rubio made the accusation on Friday, March 27, 2026, speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a G7 foreign ministers' summit held near Paris. The US secretary of state was unambiguous in his language, calling Zelenskyy's characterization of the American position false and expressing regret that the Ukrainian leader had made the claim at all. The dispute adds a new layer of tension to peace negotiations that have shown no publicly visible progress for weeks, even as the broader geopolitical landscape is increasingly dominated by the US-led war against Iran.

„That is a lie. I am sorry he says that, because he knows it is not true and it is not what he was told. He was told the obvious, security guarantees will come into force only after the end of the war, otherwise you enter into the war.” — Marco Rubio via Rai News

Rubio draws a clear line on territorial concessions Rubio insisted that the US position on security guarantees is rooted in a practical concern about being drawn into an active conflict, not in any demand for territorial concessions from Kyiv. He explained that a security guarantee, by its nature, implies troops ready to intervene — and activating such a guarantee while fighting continues would mean direct US involvement in the war. Rubio stressed that Washington communicated Russia's demands to Ukraine but did not endorse them, and that the final decision on any territorial question rests with Ukraine alone. He stated that the US role has been to understand what both sides want and seek common ground, not to dictate outcomes. Zelenskyy had told Reuters that the Trump administration was offering security guarantees on the condition that Kyiv withdraw from the entire Donbas region — territory Moscow demands but does not fully control. Rubio rejected that framing entirely, saying he did not know why Zelenskyy was making such claims.

„What was made very clear to him, and he should have understood, is that security guarantees come only after there is an end to the war. But that was not conditioned on ceding territory. I do not know why he says these things. They are simply not true.” — Marco Rubio via HotNews.ro

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, though the broader Russo-Ukrainian conflict began with Russia's annexation of Crimea and intervention in the Donbas in 2014. Moscow has consistently demanded that Ukraine formally cede the Donbas region and all Russian-occupied territories as a condition for ending hostilities — a demand Kyiv has rejected. Negotiators from the US, Russia, and Ukraine held three rounds of talks in recent months, including a trilateral session in Geneva in mid-February 2026, which produced no concrete results, according to reporting cited by N-tv.

Weapons meant for Ukraine may be redirected to Iran war Rubio also acknowledged on Friday that the Trump administration is considering redirecting weapons shipments originally intended for Ukraine to support US military operations in Iran. He confirmed that no such diversion has yet taken place but left the door open, framing the potential move as a matter of American national priority. The Washington Post had previously reported that the White House and the Pentagon were examining the possibility of redirecting weapons to the Middle East, where the US-led war against Iran has placed pressure on military stockpiles. Among the weapons potentially affected are PURL air defense interceptor missiles, purchased by NATO partner countries specifically for Ukraine. According to sources cited by the Washington Post and reported by Libertatea, US Central Command struck over targets in under four weeks of fighting in Iran. Zelenskyy has publicly expressed concern that the Iran conflict is monopolizing US attention and that President Donald Trump is increasing pressure on Ukraine to reach a settlement.

„Nothing has been diverted so far, but that could happen. If we need something from the USA for America, we will keep that for America first.” — Marco Rubio via N-tv

Deadlocked talks leave Ukraine's future deeply uncertain The broader peace process remains stalled, with no new rounds of talks publicly scheduled following the inconclusive Geneva session in mid-February 2026. Russia continues to insist on Ukrainian withdrawal from all Russian-occupied territories, while Kyiv maintains it will not surrender its territorial claims. Zelenskyy, speaking from Kyiv, told Reuters that Trump's focus on Iran is shaping his approach to the Ukraine conflict and that he believes the US president is applying growing pressure on the Ukrainian side. The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly stated that robust international security guarantees are essential to any peace deal, to prevent renewed Russian aggression after a ceasefire. Rubio, described by N-tv as considered relatively pro-Ukrainian within the Trump cabinet, nonetheless made clear that the US will not extend security guarantees while the war is ongoing. The G7 foreign ministers' meeting near Paris was also attended by European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, underscoring the continued international attention on both the Ukraine and Iran conflicts. The public rupture between Rubio and Zelenskyy marks one of the sharpest exchanges between Washington and Kyiv since the start of the Trump administration's involvement in peace mediation.