On Tuesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed that Ukrainians would not accept a peace agreement that required them to relinquish the Donbas region to Russia. He cautioned the U.S. envoy against pushing for such a peace deal, fearing it would be seen by the war’s victims as a “failure.”
“Emotionally, people will never forgive this. Never. They will not forgive… I mean, they just won’t,” Zelenskiy told U.S. negotiators during a meeting in Geneva, emphasizing the significance of the Donbas to their national identity: “This is part of our country, our people, our flag, our land.”
The president also noted it was “unfair” for the former President Trump to expect Ukraine to make concessions while overlooking Russia’s role in the conflict.
Under Ukraine’s constitution, any change in territorial recognition must be approved through a referendum by the citizens.
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are racing to finalize a peace deal that would involve Ukraine ceding control of approximately 15 to 20 percent of Donbas to create a “free economic zone.”
This proposed peace agreement would necessitate the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the region. However, Ukraine has previously stated it would not pull back unless Russia did the same.
The Russian government maintains its demand for full control of Donbas and shows willingness to expand its reach further into Ukraine, should the opportunity arise.
Zelenskiy mentioned that Ukrainians might consider a peace deal aimed at freezing the current front lines, provided it included robust security guarantees from the U.S. and Europe to deter any future Russian invasions. However, he firmly stated this agreement couldn’t allow for Russian claims on land they do not occupy.
“I think if we provide adequate documentation… and maintain open communication, I believe people would support this,” he added regarding a potential referendum. Yet, organizing national elections during wartime brings significant challenges, especially since the Kremlin refuses to agree to a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has suggested a temporary halt to attacks on Ukraine for one day before the presidential election. However, Zelenskiy indicated that a minimum of 60 days would be necessary to establish the infrastructure needed to conduct such an event.
Zelenskiy stated that the only way to resolve the impasse over the territorial conflict is through direct discussions with Putin. He has directed his team to pursue a possible summit in Geneva, highlighting that both leaders had previously found common ground during a meeting in Abu Dhabi, notably on the need to monitor a ceasefire using U.S.-operated drones.
