Zelensky say giving up land could be 'impossible' in any deal
dailymail.co.uk -- Sunday, August 17, 2025, 11:55:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Categories: Foreign Policy & International Relations, U.S.–Russia Relations, U.S.–NATO Relations
Volodymyr Zelensky has said giving up land for peace in a future agreement with Russia could be 'impossible'.
Speaking in Brussels today, the Ukrainian president insisted that his country's constitution made it 'impossible to give up territory or trade land'.
But he went on to say: 'Since the territorial issue is so important, it should be discussed only by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia at a trilateral meeting.'
'We need real negotiations, which means we can start where the front line is now,' Zelensky said, adding that European leaders supported this.
It comes as US president Donald Trump appears poised to urge the Ukrainian leader to agree to a Russian land grab of his country's territory.
Russian president Vladimir Putin is said to have demanded full control of Donetsk and Luhansk - two occupied Ukrainian regions - as a condition for ending the war.
Zelensky was speaking ahead of a virtual meeting with European leaders and before he travels to Washington to meet with Donald Trump following the US leader's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
He reiterated his position that it was necessary to establish a ceasefire in order to then negotiate a final deal.
Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking in Brussels today, has said giving up land for peace in a future agreement with Russia could be 'impossible'
Russian president Vladimir Putin is said to have demanded full control of Donetsk and Luhansk - two occupied Ukrainian regions - as a condition for ending the war when he met Trump on Friday
(From left) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the Presidential Palace in Kyiv after a 'coalition of the willing' meeting on May 10
European leaders president Ursula von der Leyen, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and France's Emmanuel Macron will travel to Washington tomorrow for peace talks at the White House.
'It's important that Washington is with us,' the Ukrainian leader said. He will be accompanied by several European allies, including Keir Starmer, for Monday's talks with Trump.
Zelensky said that Ukraine did not yet know all the demands made by Putin at the meeting with Trump on Friday, adding that it would take a long time to go over them - and that this was not possible under 'the pressure of weapons'.
Read More Trump urges Zelensky to fold as Ukraine claim suicidal Russian 'fakery' missions could seal its fate
Meanwhile, the world is still reeling from Trump's meeting with Putin in Alaska, where he rolled out the red carpet for the war-mongering tyrant.
Most international commentators believe the negotiations were a win for Putin, with the media noticing he appeared energetic and satisfied by how the summit had gone.
Trump, on the other hand, appeared uncharacteristically deflated and seemed disheartened that the famed deal-maker was not able to get an agreement together.
But the US President has hit back at his critics, posting on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday morning: 'It's incredible how the Fake News violently distorts the TRUTH when it comes to me.
'There is NOTHING I can say or do that would lead them to write or report honestly about me. I had a great meeting in Alaska on Biden's stupid War, a war that should have never happened!!!'
Only minutes later, he posted: 'If I got Russia to give up Moscow as part of the Deal, the Fake News, and their PARTNER, the Radical Left Democrats, would say I made a terrible mistake and a very bad deal.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky listens at the Mariinskyi Palace in Kiev yesterday during a conference call with Donald Trump and European partners after the Alaska summit
Vladimir Putin reportedly told the US president during the Alaska summit Friday that Ukrainian frontlines in Donetsk were on the verge of collapse
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin shake hands after a joint press conference following the US-Russia summit on Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin as they meet for talks about Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday
'That's why they are the FAKE NEWS! Also, they should talk about the 6 WARS, etc., I JUST STOPPED!!! MAGA.'
Read More Trump's bombshell but subtle gesture to Putin that everyone missed... it could be his most ingenious move yet: MARK HALPERIN
It comes as Trump envoy Steve Witkoff gave an interview with CNN where he discussed the issue of territory - and specifically of the five regions he described as always having been the 'crux of the deal'.
Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 while the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson were annexed after referendums internationally viewed as shams in 2022.
'The Russians made some concessions at the table with regard to all five of those regions,' Witkoff said today.
He added that the Donetsk region constitutes an 'important discussion' - and one which he said will happen tomorrow.
The Donbas is predominantly Russian-speaking, and after Russia snatched Crimea in 2014, its proxy forces have gained a foothold there in a long-running war.
Zelensky, who has rejected Putin's demands that Kyiv withdraw from the remaining 30 per cent of Donetsk that it still controls, played down the Russian advances, saying on X that his forces were 'countering' and 'increasing the pressure' on the 'occupier'.
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A Russian tank fires during a practice session at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on Friday
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prior to a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, 17 August 2025
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to number 10 Downing Street, London, August 14, 2025
'The Russian army continues to suffer significant losses in its attempts to secure more favourable political positions for the Russian leadership at the meeting in Alaska. We understand this plan and are informing our partners about the real situation,' he said.
Zelensky's statement comes as negotiations to end the war continue to mount.
Sir Keir Starmer, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and France's Emmanuel Macron will travel to Washington tomorrow for peace talks at the White House.
Ms Von der Leyen said 'at the request of President Zelensky, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders in the White House tomorrow.'
Other European leaders confirming they will go tomorrow included Finnish president Alexander Stubb, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte.
Mr Zelensky's Oval Office rendezvous follows Western allies holding a 'coalition of the willing' video call at 2pm earlier today, hosted by Sir Keir, Mr Macron and Mr Merz.
Mr Trump is said to be inclined to support the plan, and will speak to Mr Zelensky about it when they meet in the Oval Office.
The European leaders may also fear a repeat of Mr Zelensky's last visit to the White House at the end of February.
Volodymyr Zelensky faced a heated encounter when he met Donald Trump in February
President Volodymyr Zelensky is welcomed to Melsbroek Air Base near Brussels today
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot welcomes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to Melsbroek Air Base near Brussels today ahead of a meeting with European leaders
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at the EU headquarters in Brussels today
The tumultuous spat resulted in a souring of relations between the US and Ukraine, including a temporary cut off of American aid for the war effort.
Downing Street insisted Sir Keir and other allies stand ready to support the next phase of talks to end the war.
A statement from No 10 said: 'At the meeting that will take place at the White House tomorrow, the Prime Minister, with other European partners, stands ready to support this next phase of further talks and will reaffirm that his backing for Ukraine will continue as long as it takes.'
Yesterday, Sir Keir commended Mr Trump for bringing the conflict 'closer than ever' to an end.
Mr Trump appeared to change his position on how to end the war in Ukraine following his meeting with the Russian president on Friday.
Following the Alaska summit, the American leader suggested he wants to move straight to a full peace deal, rather than negotiating a ceasefire first.
The shift appears to echo the Russians' refusal to agree to ceasefire before engaging in peace talks.
Meanwhile Zelensky on Sunday rejected the idea of Russia offering his country security guarantees, after US and EU officials promoted the possibility.
French President Emmanuel Macron attends a video conference this afternoon with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the Fort de Bregancon in Bormes-les-Mimosas, southern France
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky meets European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels today
White House envoy Steve Witkoff earlier said Trump and his Russian counterpart Putin agreed to 'robust security guarantees' for Ukraine during a meeting in Alaska on Friday.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday hailed the proposal as an offer of NATO-style security guarantees from the United States.
'We welcome President Trump's willingness to contribute to (NATO) Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine, and the coalition of the willing, including the European Union, is ready to do its share,' von der Leyen said.
Zelensky also welcomed the idea of US security guarantees - but was less positive about Russia's intentions.
'What President Trump said about security guarantees is much more important to me than Putin's thoughts, because Putin will not give any security guarantees,' he told a press conference in Brussels alongside von der Leyen.
'Security means a strong army, which only Ukraine can provide. I believe that only Europe can finance this army.'
Von der Leyen and Zelensky also shared their thoughts on a possible meeting between Trump, Putin and the Ukrainian leader.
'So far, Russia gives no sign that the trilateral will happen and if Russia refuses, then new sanctions must follow,' Zelensky said.
Von der Leyen had said she wanted to see the three-way meeting happen 'as soon as possible'.
Sign Our PetitionThe article highlights a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, a situation that bears historical weight and significant implications for global politics. President Volodymyr Zelensky's firm stance against territorial concessions underscores a broader narrative about national sovereignty and the right to self-determination, principles that have been at the heart of international relations since the post-World War II era. The insistence on maintaining Ukraine's territorial integrity reflects not only his commitment to his country but also resonates with the historical injustices faced by nations subjected to imperial aggression.
Historically, Ukraine's struggle can be traced back to a long legacy of foreign domination and territorial disputes that have shaped its national identity. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked a significant moment of liberation for Ukraine, allowing it to assert its independence and chart its own course. However, the subsequent annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 and the ongoing conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk have been stark reminders of the fragility of that independence. Zelensky's refusal to concede land for peace is not merely a reaction to Russian aggression; it is a reaffirmation of Ukraine's right to exist as a sovereign nation free from external coercion.
The dynamics of international diplomacy are also crucial to this discussion. The article mentions Donald Trump's recent meeting with Putin, which many observers view as a capitulation to Russian interests. This meeting, and the potential for U.S. pressure on Ukraine to make territorial compromises, raises alarms about the implications for democratic governance and the rule of law on the global stage. As history has shown, appeasement can often lead to greater aggression, a lesson that has echoed through the ages, from the Munich Agreement of 1938 to the contemporary geopolitical landscape. The U.S. must uphold its commitments to allies and support their sovereignty, not facilitate their erosion under the guise of negotiation.
Zelensky's call for a ceasefire as a precursor to negotiations is another critical point. Ceasefires are vital for creating conditions conducive to dialogue, yet they can often be exploited by aggressors to regroup and strengthen their positions. The historical context of ceasefires, particularly in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, serves as a cautionary tale. It reflects the delicate balance between achieving immediate peace and ensuring long-term stability and justice. Without genuine international support for Ukraine's sovereignty, any ceasefire could serve as a mere pause in a protracted conflict, ultimately hindering prospects for a just resolution.
Moreover, the meeting of European leaders with Zelensky emphasizes the importance of collective action in addressing global conflicts. The collaboration among European nations in support of Ukraine's territorial integrity is a testament to the necessity of multilateralism in the face of unilateral aggression. This coalition reflects a broader commitment to international norms and the protection of human rights, aligning with the principles established in the aftermath of World War II. As the repercussions of the Ukraine crisis reverberate across Europe and beyond, it is essential for left-leaning individuals to advocate for policies that prioritize diplomacy, support for democracy, and respect for international law.
In conclusion, Zelensky's unwavering stance against territorial concessions is emblematic of a broader struggle for self-determination and sovereignty that resonates with many historical contexts. It serves as an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue about the responsibilities of global powers in supporting nations under threat. The current geopolitical landscape demands a reevaluation of how we navigate international relations, emphasizing solidarity with those fighting for their rights and freedoms. As discussions about Ukraine continue, it is imperative to remember the lessons of history, the importance of collective action, and the ongoing struggles for justice and peace around the world.
In recent developments regarding the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's assertion that conceding territory for peace is "impossible" has ignited a critical dialogue about national sovereignty, international diplomacy, and the role of global powers in mediation efforts. Zelensky's firm stance reflects the historical context of Ukraine's territorial integrity, particularly in light of Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing struggles in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The insistence on territorial integrity is not merely a political stance; it embodies the collective memory of a nation that has endured centuries of foreign domination and internal strife.
The historical backdrop of Ukraine's fight for sovereignty is essential to understanding the current situation. Ukraine has long been caught between larger powers, especially Russia and Western nations. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked a crucial juncture for Ukraine, as it sought to define its national identity separate from Russian influence. The 2014 Euromaidan protests, sparked by a desire for closer ties to the European Union, resulted in the ousting of a pro-Russian president but also led to heightened tensions with Russia, culminating in military aggression. This context is vital for engaging in discussions around territorial negotiations, as any concession could be viewed not only as a loss of land but as a betrayal of the sacrifices made by Ukrainians for their sovereignty.
As Americans, it is our responsibility to engage with this complex international issue thoughtfully and constructively. It is imperative that we advocate for a foreign policy that prioritizes human rights and the self-determination of nations over geopolitical maneuvering. Supporting diplomatic efforts that respect Ukraine's sovereignty is essential, and we should encourage our representatives to take a firm stand against any push that seeks to negotiate away land in exchange for temporary peace. Grassroots movements, educational forums, and community discussions can help illuminate the nuances of this conflict, fostering a more informed citizenry that can influence policy makers.
Moreover, the influence of prominent figures like former President Donald Trump in these discussions raises concerns about the potential for undermining Ukraine's position. Trump’s apparent willingness to entertain the idea of ceding territory to Russia not only reflects a dangerous precedent but also highlights the importance of vigilance in our political discourse. Engaging with right-wing counterparts on this issue requires emphasizing the moral and ethical implications of supporting a sovereign nation's right to self-defense. By framing the discussion around the principles of democracy and the protection of international law, we can challenge narratives that excuse aggression in the name of expediency.
In conclusion, the situation in Ukraine serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of sovereignty in a geopolitical landscape marked by power dynamics and historical grievances. As advocates for peace and justice, we must be proactive in our approach to international relations, ensuring that we stand firmly alongside nations fighting for their independence. By fostering education, promoting dialogue, and demanding accountability from our leaders, we can contribute to a world where territorial integrity is respected and where peace is achieved through negotiation rather than coercion. Ultimately, the fight for Ukraine's sovereignty is not just a national issue; it is a global responsibility that reflects our shared values of justice and self-determination.
To respond to the issues raised in the article regarding Ukraine's territorial integrity and the ongoing conflict with Russia, we can take various personal actions to support peace, sovereignty, and human rights. Here’s a detailed list of ideas, actions, and resources that individuals can utilize:
### 1. **Raise Awareness and Educate Others** - **Action**: Share information about Ukraine's situation on social media platforms to raise awareness among your friends and followers. - **Example**: Post articles, infographics, and personal reflections on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using relevant hashtags (e.g., #StandWithUkraine, #PeaceForUkraine).
### 2. **Support Humanitarian Aid Initiatives** - **Action**: Donate to organizations providing humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict. - **Organizations**: - **GlobalGiving**: Supports various projects in Ukraine. - Website: [GlobalGiving](https://www.globalgiving.org) - **UNICEF**: Provides support to children and families affected by the war. - Website: [UNICEF](https://www.unicef.org) - **How to Help**: Make a donation directly through their websites or participate in fundraising events.
### 3. **Contact Elected Officials** - **Action**: Write to your local and national representatives to express support for Ukraine and ask for a strong stance against aggression. - **Who to Contact**: - **U.S. Senators**: Find your senator’s contact information through [Senate.gov](https://www.senate.gov). - **Local Representatives**: Use [House.gov](https://www.house.gov) to find your representative. - **What to Say**: - Emphasize the importance of supporting Ukraine's sovereignty. - Request continued humanitarian aid and diplomatic pressure on Russia. - Example Message: ``` Dear [Representative's Name], I urge you to support strong measures to uphold Ukraine's sovereignty and provide the necessary humanitarian aid to those affected by the ongoing conflict. It is crucial that the U.S. stands firmly against aggression and supports peaceful resolutions that respect Ukraine's territorial integrity. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Address] [Your Email] ```
### 4. **Engage in Petitions** - **Action**: Sign and share petitions that advocate for peace and support for Ukraine. - **Example Petitions**: - **Change.org**: Search for petitions related to Ukraine and share them widely. - Example Petition: "Support Ukraine's Right to Sovereignty" [Change.org](https://www.change.org) - **How to Engage**: Sign the petition and encourage friends and family to do the same, amplifying the message on social media.
### 5. **Participate in Local Activism** - **Action**: Join or organize local events such as rallies or informational meetings to discuss the situation in Ukraine. - **How to Get Involved**: - Contact local peace organizations or activist groups to collaborate on events focusing on Ukraine. - Use platforms like Meetup or Facebook Events to find or create gatherings in your community.
### 6. **Advocate for Refugee Support** - **Action**: Support local organizations that assist refugees from Ukraine. - **Organizations to Contact**: - **International Rescue Committee (IRC)**: Helps refugees settle and adapt. - Website: [Rescue.org](https://www.rescue.org) - **How to Help**: Volunteer your time or donate goods to support refugees in your area.
### 7. **Engage with Media and Journalism** - **Action**: Write to your local newspapers or online publications to highlight the importance of the issue. - **What to Include**: Discuss the implications of potential territorial concessions and the need for a diplomatic solution that respects Ukraine's sovereignty. - **Example Publication**: Find contact information for your local newspaper’s opinion section and submit your thoughts.
By taking these actions, you can contribute to a broader movement advocating for peace, justice, and support for Ukraine amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Your voice and efforts are essential in fostering awareness and driving change.