Ukrainian President Firm on Territorial Integrity

On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy firmly stated that Ukraine will not surrender any land to Russia, a key demand from the Russian government and part of the ongoing negotiations with the United States to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

“We can’t give up anything; we have no right to under our laws, international law, or moral grounds,” Zelenskiy told reporters. “Russia wants us to concede territory, but we absolutely don’t want to give anything up. That’s why we’re in this fight, you know?”

He also remarked that, “To be honest, Americans are looking for compromises right now.”

The current negotiation draft includes 20 items, down from an initial 28-point proposal that seemed more like a wish list from President Vladimir Putin. This has been trimmed further from the previous 19-point version by eliminating parts that Zelenskiy deemed the most “anti-Ukrainian.”

During a press conference in London, after discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, he indicated that this new draft suggests Kiev’s willingness to engage in dialogue, but reiterated that territorial concessions were not an option.

“Not everything our partners propose aligns with our preferences,” he remarked about the new plan shaped after recent U.S.-Russian discussions. “It’s not really a problem for Americans; it’s more of an issue for the Russians. But we’ll definitely keep working on it.”

Yet, challenges regarding funding and security remain. Zelenskiy indicated that the U.S. is the only country capable of providing significant security, emphasizing he wouldn’t agree to a deal like the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which had promised to protect Ukraine after the U.S. relinquished its nuclear arsenal.

“The strongest security we can hope for is from the U.S. — but it can’t be another Budapest Memorandum or an empty promise; we need a legally binding commitment,” he stated. “So far, their response to this approach has been positive.”

However, it seems that the U.S. desires a stronger Europe. As Zelenskiy pointed out, the continent has yet to articulate any potential actions if Russia were to renew its aggression after a ceasefire.

“Regarding European security, this is a coalition of the willing. We are essentially prepared,” he mentioned in relation to an agreement involving 34 countries ready to deploy peacekeeping forces in Ukraine if the war concludes.

“The key question remains: how ready are our partners if Russian aggression resumes? As of now, we still lack clear answers,” he added.

When discussing U.S. support, Zelenskiy described the U.S. as a “strong partner” and mentioned that President Trump genuinely aims to conclude the war, albeit with his unique vision.

“It’s clear they want the war to end,” he remarked. “This isn’t a game for the Americans.”

Zelenskiy appreciated the efforts of Trump’s advisor Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, but he underlined that Ukrainians are deeply affected by ongoing struggles, including power outages and exhaustion.

“Everyone desires an end to the war, but for us, it’s crucial to determine the terms under which we can trust Russia to prevent future conflict. Those details matter greatly, and they are not straightforward,” he noted. “That’s why we seek answers to all these specifics.”

Additionally, Ukraine hopes to unfreeze billions in Russian assets through reparations or other means to help fund reconstruction and maintain military support. “Ukraine can’t manage without this funding,” Zelenskiy pointed out, although he mentioned some EU nations still need persuasion.

He dismissed any notion of the U.S. withdrawing from negotiations while continuing to supply weapons via the Pentagon’s PURL initiative, which European nations rely on for American military systems. “That wouldn’t be acceptable,” he insisted.

Zelenskiy acknowledged that U.S. senators are moving forward with legislation regarding the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia. He stated that this issue, along with prisoner exchanges, is part of the recent U.S. 20-point framework.

On Tuesday evening, Zelenskiy expressed his intent to ensure that the U.S. receives an official stance on this 20-point plan, especially after Trump claimed that Zelenskiy hadn’t reviewed the latest draft. In the meantime, he plans to consult with European leaders about financing reparations and security matters, emphasizing that both elements must align to sustain the peace agreement.