Zelensky Rejects Territorial Concessions, Vows Ukraine Will Not Bow to Pressure from Russia or U.S.
Ukrainian president reaffirms refusal to cede land as Washington pushes a peace plan amid escalating war and growing European support for Kyiv’s stance
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated Monday that Ukraine will not cede any territory to Russia, dismissing proposals embedded in a U.S.-backed peace framework as incompatible with Ukrainian, international and moral law.
He delivered the message shortly after concluding meetings with leaders of Britain, France and Germany in London, and immediately before departing for a session with European and Nato officials in Brussels.
Zelensky emphasised that the suggestion of territorial swaps — including relinquishing control of the Donbas region — is categorically off the table.
He said any relocation of borders would violate Ukraine’s constitution as well as global legal norms, and he described such concessions as morally indefensible.
Despite recent negotiations between Ukrainian and American envoys, the president stressed that Kyiv simply lacks the legal or ethical mandate to surrender land “for peace.” He noted that while the draft peace framework has been revised to remove some previously contentious conditions, the aspect involving land has not changed in any acceptable form.
The declaration comes as the United States, under the leadership of former President Donald Trump, presses a peace initiative that critics argue amounts to a reward for Russian aggression.
European capitals, meanwhile, have rallied around Ukraine, calling instead for robust security guarantees and reconstruction support — a strategy focused on restoring Kyiv’s military and economic resilience rather than demanding territorial concessions.
As diplomatic efforts intensify and the war enters its fourth year, Zelensky’s firm stance reinforces Ukraine’s demand that any peace process must uphold national sovereignty and involve Kyiv directly in all negotiations.
The coming days in Brussels and across European capitals will test whether allies can translate words into coordinated action to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and long-term security.