Donbas for peace? Zelenskyy gives blunt response to US proposals
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the idea of handing Donbas to Russia short-sighted, according to a Financial Times publication.
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Commenting on suggestions circulating in the United States about ending the war in exchange for territorial concessions, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said handing Donbas to Russia would not bring lasting peace but would instead fuel Moscow’s aggression.
'Russia is Russia': why concessions would not work
Zelenskyy expressed strong skepticism that Russia’s territorial ambitions are limited to eastern Ukraine. He said meeting Moscow’s demands over Donbas would be a dangerous path that would not end the war.
He said he does not believe withdrawing from Donbas would bring the conflict to a close, arguing that Russia cannot be trusted and that such concessions would only postpone further aggression.
The remarks came amid debate in US political circles, where some figures suggest Russian President Vladimir Putin might agree to a settlement if occupied parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions were formally transferred to Moscow.
Defence of sovereignty as only strategy
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine remains firm on its territorial integrity, describing territorial concessions not as a strategic decision but as a critical mistake that would give Russia time to prepare a new offensive.
Key points of the statement include:
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Distrust of the Kremlin: agreements without security guarantees would be meaningless
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Territorial integrity: Ukraine will continue defending every part of its territory
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Short-sighted concessions: abandoning Donbas would not stop Russia’s broader ambitions
The statement comes amid growing diplomatic pressure and ongoing efforts to find ways to resolve the conflict.
Kyiv maintains that a just peace is possible only on the basis of international law and the restoration of Ukraine’s 1991 borders. Proposals involving territorial trade-offs are viewed in Ukraine as capitulation that delays rather than prevents further escalation.
Zelenskyy has also said Ukraine’s victory means not only regaining territory but also preserving people and independence. In the same interview, he explained why Ukraine currently lacks the capacity to fully reclaim its territories and argued that Vladimir Putin has already started World War III, with Ukraine preventing it from becoming full-scale.
