Marco Rubio Denies Ukraine's Claims on Donbas, Says Security Guarantees Post-War Only
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has strongly denied recent statements from Ukraine regarding the Donbas region, asserting that security guarantees can only be provided after the fighting has ended. In a statement on Friday, Rubio refuted claims made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the Trump administration is demanding Kyiv hand over eastern Donbas to Russia in exchange for US security guarantees as part of any ceasefire plan.
Rubio described Zelenskyy's comments as a lie, stating, "That's a lie. And I saw him say that. And it's unfortunate he would say that because he knows that's not true and that's not what he was told." Zelenskyy had told Reuters earlier this week that the US was making its offer of security guarantees contingent on Ukraine ceding the Donbas region, an industrial area long coveted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
French Television Criticized for Lavrov Interview
In related developments, French public television faced severe criticism on Friday for airing a prime-time interview with Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov. The France 2 channel broadcast a 10-minute segment of the pre-recorded interview during its Thursday evening news, with the full hour-long version posted online.
More than four years into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Lavrov claimed on France 2 that Moscow is intent on defending "international law." He argued that US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which sparked the Middle East war, had breached these rules, while rejecting any notion of Russia breaking international law in Ukraine. Lavrov insisted that Russian forces never targeted "exclusively civilian" targets.
Ukraine's ambassador to France, Vadym Omelchenko, responded on social media, questioning why French television would provide a platform to "a war criminal." French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot countered Lavrov's claims, stating that Russia does not defend international law either in Ukraine or Iran with its actions. Barrot told reporters on the sidelines of a G7 meeting in France, "Mr Lavrov was able to calmly spread his propaganda last night on a French television channel ... You do not defend international law by launching a war of aggression."
Kremlin Denies Putin's Request for War Funding
Meanwhile, Moscow has denied reports that Vladimir Putin asked Russian oligarchs to donate funds to support the Ukraine war. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified that during a closed-door meeting on March 26, one of the businessmen proposed donating money to the state, and Putin welcomed this initiative. This follows earlier coverage by Nadeem Badshah on the topic.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Emphasizes US Role
Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, emphasized that the US still plays a critical role in ending the war with Russia. Sybiha, who met with Rubio on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in France, posted on social media on Friday, "Ukraine's proposals are realistic and doable. Pressure on Russia is key to make Moscow end the war." He added, "We also spoke about the developments in the Middle East. Ukraine's position is that the regimes in Moscow and Tehran work together to prolong the war."
There are growing concerns that the US-Israeli war on Iran has diverted attention away from efforts to find peace in Ukraine, complicating diplomatic initiatives in the region.
