Can Ukraine accept Moscow's conditions on occupied territories? Zelenskyy responds
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Getty Images)
Russian leader Vladimir Putin needs the administrative borders of Donbas (a region in eastern Ukraine) to create the illusion of victory. But no one can guarantee that he will not go further in a few years, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a meeting with journalists.
"As president, I make different decisions every day, and I am not afraid of that. It's just that there are certain things you have no right to do. Why does Putin need the administrative borders of Donbas? He doesn't care about Donbas. He won't build anything there. He will start loudly, show off some marketing, tractors will arrive, and then they will abandon everything. He will invest some money, but still, he doesn't need it. Has Crimea become a pearl? And there are no active hostilities there. No, it hasn't," Zelenskyy said.
He emphasized that for the Russian leader, the issue of territories is only a way to create the appearance of victory.
"I believe he has a complicated story because he wants to show that he has won the war, and for this, he needs the administrative borders of Donbas. But here's the thing. Who said he won't go further in a few years? Who can guarantee that? He definitely will — that's the system in Russia, which constantly returns to war," the president stressed.
Zelenskyy also noted that this is why the issue of security guarantees for Ukraine has always remained a priority.
"Security guarantees have always been number one for us. I've always said that. At a certain stage, I supported an unconditional ceasefire and other initiatives by President Trump. But we want to end the war — fairly and reliably. And now we are at the point where the American president is giving Putin another chance," Zelenskyy said.
Trump calls for a halt along the front line, while Putin hints at concessions
On Friday, October 17, Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington for a meeting with Donald Trump. Before the closed portion of the meeting, both leaders spoke to the press, and afterward, Zelenskyy held a separate press conference.
Following the meeting, Trump published a post calling on Ukraine and Russia to stop where each side currently stands — along the front line.
Zelenskyy, in turn, emphasized that he supports the idea of ending the war and is ready to consider any formats that could bring peace closer.
According to The Washington Post, during his conversation with Trump, Putin demanded that Ukraine give up the Donetsk region. In exchange, he was reportedly ready to return the occupied parts of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.
Zelenskyy also stated after the meeting with the US president that territorial issues remain the most challenging topic in the negotiations.
For more details on what Zelenskyy and Trump discussed at the White House, see the full report by RBC-Ukraine.
