US’ Rubio accuses Zelensky of lying, ready to divert Ukraine arms to Iran war
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of lying, after Mr Zelensky said in an interview that the US was pressing Ukraine to give up its eastern Donbas region to Russia.
PHOTOS: AFP
- Marco Rubio accused Volodymyr Zelensky of lying about US demands regarding the Donbas region, stating security guarantees are not linked to territorial concessions.
- Rubio criticised Zelensky after viral footage showed Trump and Vance berating him for being ungrateful for US assistance, highlighting growing tensions.
- Rubio indicated the US is open to diverting aid from Ukraine to support a potential US attack on Iran, prioritising American needs, though PURL remains unchanged.
AI generated
PARIS - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on March 27 accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of lying about US demands and voiced openness to diverting weapons meant for Kyiv to support the US attack on Iran.
Mr Zelensky had said in an interview that the US was pressing Ukraine to give up the eastern Donbas region to Russia, which the latter invaded four years ago, before finalising any post-war security guarantees to Kyiv.
“That’s a lie,” Mr Rubio told reporters, when asked about Mr Zelensky’s remarks.
“I saw him say that, and it’s unfortunate he would say that, because he knows that’s not true,” Mr Rubio said in Paris, after talks between the Group of Seven industrialised democracies.
“What he was told is the obvious: Security guarantees are not going to kick in until there’s an end to a war, because otherwise you’re getting yourself involved in the war,” Mr Rubio said.
“That was not attached to, unless he gives up territory.
“I don’t know why he says these things. It’s not true.”
The attack on Mr Zelensky was especially striking as it came from Mr Rubio, a former senator who has largely been seen as more supportive of the Ukrainian cause than some others in President Donald Trump’s circles.
In a scene that went viral in February 2025, Mr Rubio sat sullenly in the Oval Office as Mr Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance berated Mr Zelensky, saying he was ungrateful for US assistance.
Recently, Mr Trump has again criticised Mr Zelensky, saying that he needs to accept compromises and comparing him unfavourably with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Rubio said that the US was open to diverting assistance from Ukraine after the US and Israel attacked Iran.
“Nothing yet has been diverted, but it could,” Mr Rubio said.
“If we need something for America and it’s American, we’re going to keep it for America first.”
But he said there had not yet been any change to the so-called Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL, a NATO initiative established after Mr Trump’s return to office, in which European allies fund weapons requested by Ukraine that are purchased from the US. AFP
