Ukraine's Security Is Non-Negotiable: Why Donbas Is the Heart of Any Durable Peace
March 26, 2026 | American Ukraine Committee
A Reuters exclusive published this week brought a critical question to the center of international attention: what does a genuine security guarantee for Ukraine actually look like – and can any peace framework deliver it without compromising Ukraine's ability to defend itself?
President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the issue directly. His message was clear:
"The eastern part of our country is part of our security guarantees."
Not a bargaining chip. A fortress.
Two Questions That Must Be Answered
Peace negotiations between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine have continued across three rounds of high-level trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi and Geneva. Progress is being made. But Zelensky identified two questions that remain unresolved and cannot be ignored:
Who will fund Ukraine's continued weapons procurement to maintain its military deterrent after any ceasefire? And what, precisely, will allied nations do if Russia strikes again?
Without concrete answers, any security framework risks being incomplete. Ukraine has a right to ask – and the international community has a responsibility to respond clearly.
Why Donbas Is Not Just Territory
This is not a debate about geography. It is a debate about military logic and long-term stability.
Donbas is home to what analysts call the Fortress Belt – a chain of heavily fortified cities that Ukraine has spent years preparing as a defensive backbone. The security of this terrain is inseparable from Ukraine's ability to deter future aggression.
Zelensky was unambiguous: any arrangement that weakens Ukraine's defensive positions would compromise not only Ukraine's security, but Europe's as well.
Russia currently controls roughly 80% of the Donbas region. Capturing the remaining 6,000 square kilometers – defended by fortified Ukrainian positions – would require enormous resources and time. Zelensky questioned whether Russia is truly prepared to pay that cost.
Ukraine Is Stronger Than the Headlines Suggest
Despite the complexity of the negotiations, Ukraine's position is not one of weakness.
The country has made significant advances in its own production of long-range missiles and drones – giving it the capacity to defend its cities and respond to continued Russian bombardment. Patriot missile defense deliveries have continued, and Zelensky expressed genuine appreciation for that support.
"Deliveries to us were not stopped. I'm very grateful,"
he said – while noting that the volume remains below what the battlefield requires.
Gulf states are actively seeking Ukrainian drone technology and air defense expertise. The international landscape is shifting in Ukraine's favor in ways that go beyond the front lines.
Russia's Strategy: Delay, Distract, Outlast
While diplomacy continues, Russia's actions on the ground tell a different story. Mass drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure have not stopped.The spring offensive is building. A fourth round of trilateral talks, scheduled for this month, was postponed.
Every peace proposal Ukraine has accepted, Russia has rejected. As former U.S. Ambassador John Herbst noted recently, Russia's approach at the negotiating table has been to create the appearance of process – without genuine commitment to peace.
This is not the behavior of a party seeking resolution. It is the behavior of a party seeking advantage.
Sanctions Are Central – Not Peripheral
Sanctions are not a side issue in this peace process. They are one of its most important instruments.
Economic pressure on Moscow is one of the few levers that creates a genuine incentive for Russia to negotiate in good faith. Easing that pressure – before accountability, before verified compliance, before a just and durable agreement – removes the foundation on which any real peace must be built.
As Herbst put it: "We need to see constant pressure, new pressure on Russia, so Putin understands he cannot achieve any further gains on the battlefield in Ukraine."
Maintaining sanctions is not stubbornness. It is strategy.
The Bottom Line
Ukraine is fighting for something simple and profound: the right to exist as a sovereign, free nation – with borders that mean something, and security guarantees that hold.
Supporting that goal is not a partisan position. It is a moral one. And it requires sustained, coordinated action – on the battlefield, at the negotiating table, and in the halls of Congress.
Your representatives need to hear from you.
Take Action with Your Members of Congress
Your voice matters.
Sanctions on Russia must remain in place until there is full accountability for its aggression against Ukraine. Lifting them prematurely would weaken global security and reward violations of international law.
We urge policymakers to:
Maintain all existing sanctions
Reject any premature easing
Continue coordinated international pressure
Stand firmly with Ukraine
Now is not the time to weaken resolve.
Take action today: 👉 Do Not Lift Sanctions on Russia:
https://www.amukr.org/do-not-lift-sanctions-on-russia
Resources
📰 Reuters – US links security guarantees to Ukraine, giving up Donbas, Zelenskiy says (March 25, 2026) https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-links-security-guarantees-ukraine-giving-up-donbas-zelenskiy-says-2026-03-25/