Putin won't stop at Donbas, eyes Dnipro and Kharkiv next — Zelenskyy
Photo: Russian leader Vladimir Putin (flickr.com)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, in a podcast by Alastair Campbell, The Rest is Politics, that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will not stop if he secures Donbas. His next move will be to attempt to seize regional capitals — Dnipro and Kharkiv.
Zelenskyy commented on the trilateral negotiation process to end the war in Ukraine, noting that, in his view, US President Donald Trump’s team has not fully understood Russia’s demands and objectives.
He suggested this may be because Trump’s negotiators — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — spent significant time in contact with Putin and his inner circle.
According to Zelenskyy, US representatives visited Moscow five times, while there were no visits to Kyiv.
He also said he understands the Russian leader's psychology and actual military goals better than the White House does.
The Ukrainian president stated that Putin will not stop if he takes Donbas and will attempt to capture other regional centers — Dnipro and Kharkiv.
“We have to recognise that partially Americans are feeling that [Donbas is] nothing for us,” Zelenskyy said.
“They don’t want to recognise that Putin will lie to them and that he can continue the occupation even after such steps. The Americans are sure that they can trust Putin,” he emphasized.
Donbas at the center of negotiations
Since the beginning of 2026, Ukraine has held several rounds of negotiations with Russia.
The key issue that remains unresolved is control over the non-occupied parts of Donbas.
Russia insists on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, Ukraine proposes freezing positions along the front line, while the United States supports creating a free economic zone in these territories.
Recently, US Vice President JD Vance commented on the talks, saying that Ukraine and Russia are effectively “bargaining” over a few square kilometers of territory.
Meanwhile, The New York Times, citing military sources and Western intelligence, reports that Putin believes he is winning on the battlefield and is prepared to continue fighting for full control of the Donetsk region for another two years.
