Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s fundamental position regarding the resolution of the issue of occupied territories is to maintain control over those parts of Donbas that are currently under Ukrainian authority. He noted that this approach – “we stand where we stand” – is considered a fair compromise at this stage.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Ukraine’s Position on Conflict Resolution
Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that the compromise being discussed in international negotiations is for the Ukrainian authorities to retain control over the territories of Donbas under their jurisdiction. According to him, a final resolution to the issue of returning the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions is only possible through diplomatic means. Zelensky stated:
“In diplomacy, this moment is not only about a ceasefire but also about ending the war. That is, the Russians will remain in the temporarily occupied parts of our Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and we will return these territories exclusively through diplomatic means. And we will stand and live in that part of Donbas that is controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. This is a fundamental issue. It is important for us that the Ukrainian authorities control precisely that part of the territory that we currently control. This is a compromise solution for today.”
At the same time, the president noted that Russia is taking an ultimatum position, demanding that Ukraine withdraw from the territory of Donetsk region, which is absolutely unacceptable for Kyiv. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine has neither the capacity nor the desire to leave these territories, which has been clearly communicated to American partners.
Negotiations and the Role of International Mediators
During discussions, international partners, particularly the United States, proposed the establishment of a free economic zone in the disputed territories, which should be demilitarized. However, the Ukrainian side is not confident in the security of such a format given the risks of new aggression from Russia.
Zelensky stressed that the question of the possibility of creating an economic zone should be decided by the citizens of Ukraine. He previously emphasized that any territorial decisions must be made exclusively by the Ukrainian people in the format of elections or a referendum.
The president also acknowledged that during trilateral negotiations between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington, a unified position regarding the future status of Donbas has not yet been achieved. He noted that the United States, Russia, and Ukraine have different visions for resolving and ultimately settling the conflict.
In particular, the United States is convinced that a complete ceasefire is only possible after signing a comprehensive peace agreement, as they believe Russia will not agree to a truce without such a document. Meanwhile, Kyiv insists on the necessity of first achieving a cessation of hostilities before negotiating the future of the region.
Whether the Russian president is ready to compromise on ending the war is currently unknown. Following recent negotiations with representatives of Donald Trump in Moscow, the Kremlin stated that part of the proposed agreements is acceptable, but several points were rejected by Russia.