Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made an emphatic public stand rejecting any proposal to surrender parts of the Donbas region to Russia, warning that doing so would effectively pave the way for future aggression. Speaking with journalists, Zelensky insisted that relinquishing control over strategically important terrain, even under pressure, would create a “springboard for a future new offensive” by Moscow, potentially igniting what he termed a “third war” in Ukraine.
In Kyiv, Zelensky referenced intelligence suggesting Russia is preparing new offensives and has already advanced through sabotage operations in Donbas. With reports of a breach of Ukrainian lines by infiltration groups, he cautioned that conceding land now could expose cities like Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv to direct assault.
Zelensky underscored Ukraine’s constitutional safeguards, stating unequivocally that any territorial changes would require a public referendum —something the president cannot enact unilaterally. He stressed the necessity of coupling any ceasefire with firm security guarantees and broader European involvement to ensure long-term peace.
His remarks come just days before a high-profile summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Zelensky warned that excluding Ukraine from direct talks or pressuring Kyiv to cede territory would erode its sovereignty and potentially embolden Russia. He dismissed any suggestion that Trump shared Putin’s positional demands, expressing hope that the U.S. would act as a neutral mediator rather than favoring Moscow.
