Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has once again ruled out the possibility of ceding any territory to Russia, even as US President Donald Trump presses Kyiv to respond to a newly drafted peace proposal
for ending the war.
In remarks reported by the Associated Press, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine would not surrender land under any circumstances. “Undoubtedly, Russia insists that we give up territories. We, clearly, don’t want to give up anything,” he said. “Do we consider ceding any territories? According to the law, we don’t have such a right… And to be frank, we don’t have a moral right either.”
Zelensky noted that Ukrainian law, the constitution, and international legal norms all prohibit territorial concessions, reaffirming that the country’s forces are fighting specifically to prevent such losses.
His comments come as Trump told Politico that he has provided Ukraine with a new draft peace plan, one he claims some Ukrainian officials support, though Zelensky has not yet reviewed it. “It would be nice if he would read it,” Trump said, adding that his envoys have given Kyiv only “days” to respond. According to the Financial Times, the proposal would require Ukraine to accept territorial losses in exchange for US security guarantees. Trump has also argued that Russia currently holds the “upper hand” in the conflict.
Amid the pressure, Zelensky is travelling across Europe to rally diplomatic support. On Monday, he met Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome, where the two discussed strengthening security guarantees for Ukraine and maintaining pressure on Russia to engage in “good faith” negotiations, according to Meloni’s office.
The meeting followed high-level talks a day earlier in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as Ukraine works to consolidate backing from key European partners during a critical phase of the war.
