Zelenskyy on rejecting 'territory swap': We will not give anything to Putin
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine will not give its territories to the Russian President Vladimir Putin. If he goes further, he will have to "lay down" millions of Russian soldiers, states Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Zelenskyy emphasized that no one trusts Putin.
"For some, it’s just territory, but for us, it’s our life, our history, our Constitution. These are homes, these are families, these are many, many aspects that are very sensitive for Ukraine. Those who lived there and those who have now left their homes because of bombings and occupation would want to return. Yes, perhaps it’s unrealistic right now, but they will return," he said.
According to him, there is no single or reasonable approach in the form of exchanging territories.
"If you don’t trust this person, if this person has already partially occupied you, if you understand all the aspects of a full-scale war—meaning that even if you step back, if someone supports that crazy idea, who can then give you guarantees that Putin won’t continue? No one can give guarantees," the president noted.
He stressed that Putin has lied many times, so he cannot be trusted, and Ukraine will not give him its territories.
"This is a very powerful part of our defensive line. He has already lost many servicemen there — over 100,000, especially in key directions. I mean Putin. So it’s clear that over 4 years, he has not managed to occupy more than 30% of a single region in Donbas," Zelenskyy added.
He pointed out that if the Russian leader goes further, it would take him years.
"I don’t know how many years, but it will be years. You understand, the issue here is not just years, not just time. The question is that he would have to lay down millions of soldiers. That’s exactly why we will not give him such gifts," the president emphasized.
Territory exchange
Earlier, US President Donald Trump suggested a "territory swap" as a way to resolve Russia’s war against Ukraine.
He also promised that efforts would be made to return some of the territories currently under Russian occupation to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in turn, emphasized that Ukraine will not agree to a territory exchange with Russia, as this is prohibited by the Constitution.
Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada (the parliament) of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, also stated that Ukraine cannot engage in a territory exchange with Russia, even through holding a referendum. Violating territorial integrity is against the law.
Earlier, Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak stressed that Ukraine has no plans to hold a referendum to recognize the territories occupied by Russia.
According to him, Ukraine realistically acknowledges that Russia has seized part of its territory. However, there will be no referendums to recognize this occupation.
