ISTANBUL
Peace talks between the US and Ukraine have hit a major obstacle over Washington’s push for a compromise on the Donbas region, with a senior European official claiming that American negotiators are exploring ways for Kyiv to relinquish territory that Russia has failed to seize.
“Americans insist that Ukraine must leave the Donbas … one way or another,” the official told Politico, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the issue.
They said US officials have been focused on how to accommodate Russia’s demands, while Kyiv maintains that any peace arrangement must freeze fighting along current lines.
Kyiv still controls roughly 30% of the Donbas, including parts of the Donetsk region. “The most realistic option is to stand where we stand. But the Russians are pressuring Kyiv to give up territories,” the European official said.
The official also described growing American impatience, as US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Ukraine’s stance.
On Sunday, Trump said that he is "a little bit disappointed" in Zelenskyy, claiming that the Ukrainian leader has not yet reviewed the full proposal, and that Moscow is "fine with it."
Zelenskyy told Bloomberg that Ukraine and the US remain divided on the question of the east, stressing that granting Russian President Vladimir Putin control over territory he could not capture militarily would only embolden further advances.
“Maybe Trump also wants it to happen fast, so his team is forced to explain to him they are not the ones to blame for why this is not happening as fast as he wanted,” the European official said.
In recent remarks, Putin claimed Russia would take Donbas “anyway,” while Zelenskyy previously estimated it would take Moscow about four years to occupy the region fully.
As talks continue, Ukrainian officials say they are awaiting clarity on what security guarantees Washington is prepared to offer and whether the US intends to act as a neutral mediator or tilt toward Russian preferences.
Since the 2022 escalation, disputes over territory, security guarantees, and sequencing of political commitments have repeatedly stalled diplomatic efforts. Kyiv has warned that concessions in Donbas would undermine long-term security and reverse gains made with Western support.