Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that Ukraine is prepared to discuss potential territorial changes as part of a peace agreement aimed at ending Russia’s ongoing invasion. However, he emphasized that Kyiv will not relinquish any land currently not occupied by Russian forces. “We need real negotiations,” Zelenskyy stated during a press conference in Brussels, asserting that discussions should commence from the current front line, as it represents the most accurate contact line for meaningful dialogue.
Zelenskyy made these remarks ahead of his trip to Washington, where he is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday. The Ukrainian leader expressed confidence that genuine negotiations could take place if both sides are willing to engage. He highlighted Russia's failure to secure the Donetsk region of Eastern Ukraine, an area Moscow has sought to control since 2014. “Russian President Vladimir Putin has been unable to take it for 12 years, and the constitution of Ukraine makes it impossible to give up territory or trade land,” he explained.
Recent reports from The New York Times indicate that President Trump conveyed to European leaders his belief that peace could be achievable if Ukraine considers ceding territory in the eastern parts of the country. Key cities within the Donetsk region, such as Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, have successfully resisted Russia's invasion efforts. Following his discussions with Putin in Alaska, Trump claimed to have found common ground on “many points,” raising hopes for potential negotiations.
Zelenskyy expressed his willingness to negotiate directly with Putin in future meetings, ideally facilitated by Trump. “Since the territorial issue is so important, it should be discussed only by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia at the trilateral meeting with the United States,” he noted. However, he pointed out that Russia has yet to show any willingness to participate in such discussions, warning that refusal to engage could lead to new sanctions against Moscow.
According to POLITICO, any discussions regarding territorial exchanges would depend on Russia first agreeing to and observing a ceasefire—something that Moscow has repeatedly failed to establish a timeline for. As Zelenskyy prepares for his meeting with Trump, he will be accompanied by key European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
During the press conference, Zelenskyy also addressed growing concerns regarding the European Union’s potential progression with Moldova’s application for EU membership, especially as Hungary continues to block Ukraine’s accession. While both countries have been advancing their applications in tandem, there are indications that Brussels may allow Moldova to proceed ahead of Ukraine. “There can be no division between Ukraine and Moldova. That would simply be a very bad move to my mind,” Zelenskyy asserted. He warned that any such division would signify a broader division within Europe regarding Ukraine.
