Arabic version: ماركو روبيو ينفي مزاعم زيلينسكي حول دونباس وضمانات الأمن الأمريكية

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has firmly denied recent claims made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding the eastern Donbas region. According to The Guardian, Rubio stated that the United States is not demanding that Kyiv cede Donbas to Russia in exchange for security guarantees in any potential ceasefire agreement.

Rubio characterized Zelenskyy’s assertion as false, emphasizing that the US has not made any such stipulation during negotiations with Ukraine. He described the claim as a lie and expressed disappointment that Zelenskyy would propagate it, given that he was aware of the truth.

In related developments, French public television faced backlash for airing an interview with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The interview, which included Lavrov’s comments on international law and the conflict in Ukraine, drew criticism from Ukraine’s ambassador to France, Vadym Omelchenko, who questioned the decision to provide a platform to what he termed a “war criminal.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also condemned Lavrov’s assertions, arguing that Russia’s actions in Ukraine do not align with any defense of international law. He reiterated that one cannot claim to uphold international law while engaging in acts of aggression.

In other news, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refuted claims that President Vladimir Putin solicited donations from Russian oligarchs to fund the war in Ukraine. Peskov clarified that a businessman had proposed the idea during a closed-door meeting, but it was not an official request from Putin.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized the importance of US involvement in resolving the conflict, asserting that pressure on Russia is essential for achieving peace. He noted that he had discussions with Rubio at the G7 meeting in France, highlighting the interconnectedness of the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.