Zelenskyy says 87% of Ukrainians want peace but not at the cost of Donbas

"People want peace. Today, President Trump said, I saw the polls that 85%, maybe 87%, he said, want peace, so they agree. I said: yes, you know, this is our life, 87% support peace. At the same time, 85% are against the withdrawal (of troops - ed.) from the east, from Donbas. Everybody wants peace, but just peace," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy said that a withdrawal from Donbas would be the "worst way" and stressed that all parties must understand this.

"It will be a big risk for Ukraine. Not acceptable to Ukrainians. And the referendum will not be positive," the country's leader emphasized.

Zelenskyy–Trump meeting

On Sunday, December 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump held a nearly two-hour meeting in Florida, during which they discussed contentious aspects of the US peace plan for Ukraine.

After the talks, both leaders spoke to the press, making statements about the negotiations. Trump said there had been some progress on Donbas, adding that a final decision had not yet been made but that the sides had moved closer to an agreement.

The US leader also announced the creation of a special working group on peace settlement, which will work with senior US officials and engage with the Russian side.

Zelenskyy said the peace plan is 90% agreed, while US security guarantees are agreed "100%."

According to media reports, Trump is ready to approve these guarantees through the US Congress, and French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed progress on contributions from the so-called Coalition of the Willing to Ukraine's security.

For more details on what the Ukrainian and US presidents discussed and whether they reached an agreement on sensitive issues, see the material by RBC-Ukraine.