Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy has drawn a line in the sand against Russian occupation, refusing to surrender any territory despite growing pressure for peace talks. The defiant leader questioned President Trump’s peace efforts, and suggested that Putin is engaging in deception while preparing for more aggression.
At a glance:
• Ukrainian President Zelenskyy declared Ukraine will “never cede” occupied territories to Russia
• Zelenskyy has expressed doubts about Trump-led peace efforts, suggesting Trump is being deceived by Putin
• The war has become static, with Ukraine struggling to reclaim territory despite high casualties
• Trump has told Zelenskyy directly “you’re not winning this” while pushing for negotiations
• European leaders are discussing potential peacekeeping forces while maintaining support for Ukraine’s position
Zelensky Refuses to Surrender Territory
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphatically stated that Ukraine will not give up its occupied territories to Russia under any circumstances. His stance comes amid increasing pressure from various international parties to negotiate an end to the conflict that has devastated the country since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
“One thing is certain: we will never cede our occupied territories to Russia. These lands belong to the Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy declared in a recent interview with French newspaper Le Figaro. Since the 2022 invasion, Russia has seized significant portions of Ukrainian territory in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea.
Trump’s Peace Efforts Questioned
The Ukrainian President openly questioned Donald Trump’s approach to peace negotiations with Russia. Zelensky suggested that Trump’s diplomatic methods may be ineffective against a leader like Putin, who will likely interpret concessions as weakness.
“Donald Trump tried to create good diplomatic relations with Russia. But this kind of method doesn’t work with a man like Putin… If Donald Trump eases sanctions against Russia, he will only deduce one thing: that he is a weak President and can therefore take the next step,” Zelenskyy warned.
Trump has bluntly told Mr. Zelenskyy that he is “not winning this,” and continued to declare his belief that Ukraine should negotiate rather than continue fighting. After recent talks with Putin, Trump described the discussions as “good and productive,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was “cautiously optimistic” about ceasefire prospects.
Military Stalemate and Putin’s Strategy
Military experts on both sides have acknowledged that the conflict has reached a stalemate. Former U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley stated that “victory is probably not achievable through military means” – an assessment that aligns with Ukrainian commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi’s analysis.
Zaluzhnyi noted that “the war is now moving to a new stage: what we in the military call ‘positional’ warfare of static and attritional fighting, as in the first world war. This will benefit Russia, allowing it to rebuild its military power, eventually threatening Ukraine’s armed forces and the state itself.” The Ukrainian military has struggled to reclaim significant territory despite Western support and has suffered heavy casualties.
Zelenskyy has also accused Putin of deliberately stalling negotiations while preparing for a spring offensive.
European nations continue to support Ukraine’s position, with the G7 reiterating its commitment and the EU extending sanctions on Russia. The UN has accused Russia of crimes against humanity in Ukraine, while European leaders consider a peacekeeping force to help stabilize the region.
