“Ukraine is not ready to cede to Russia those areas of Donbas that Russian troops have been unable to capture, even if a peace agreement is offered in return.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this during a press conference held as part of his visit to Denmark.
According to him, putting pressure on Ukraine and demanding that it withdraw from Donbas are the easiest ways to conduct negotiations, but Kyiv is not ready for such an agreement, as it does not trust Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky stressed that Ukraine needs clear security guarantees, noting that a united position of the US and Europe is important in ensuring them.
He also stated that Ukraine expects to restore direct US support, particularly on the supply of air defence systems. According to Zelensky, with current European funding Ukraine is able to acquire American weaponry.
Referring to his contacts with US representatives Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, Zelensky noted that he had observed certain changes in their statements.
He stressed that the Donbas issue is not only a territorial question or one of square kilometres, but concerns first and foremost the people living there, their homes and their fates.
