Zelenskyy refuses to yield ground on territorial disputes - Ukrainian President Zelensky rejects territorial compromises
In a firm stance against any peace deal that involves ceding Ukrainian territory, President Volodymyr Zelensky has categorically rejected proposals made by former President Donald Trump suggesting territorial swaps could benefit both sides before Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin[1].
The eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, currently under Putin's territorial demands, are the focus of the proposed concessions[1]. These demands would result in the Ukrainian army ceding strategically important cities and thousands of square kilometers of territory[1]. However, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine "will not give Russia any awards for what it has done" and insists that Ukrainians "will not give their land to the occupier"[1].
This rejection is based on both public unpopularity and legal grounds. Such territorial concessions would violate Ukraine’s constitution, which forbids changing its 1991 borders without public consent[1]. Given more than three years of conflict and sacrifice, Zelensky views any deal involving land concessions as a political disaster that would spark domestic outcry[1].
Currently, freezing the front line is a more acceptable scenario for the Ukrainian people instead of territorial swaps[1]. The war in Ukraine has been ongoing for nearly three and a half years, with Ukraine defending itself against a large-scale Russian invasion. Notably, the capital city of Ukraine, Kyiv, is part of the territory under dispute[1].
Zelensky's criticism of the summit location suggests he believes it is not an appropriate setting for ending the Ukraine conflict, as it is too distant from the conflict zone[1]. The summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will take place on August 15 in the northern US state of Alaska[1].
Despite the proposed territorial concessions, no one, including Zelensky, can deviate from Ukraine's Constitution regarding territorial matters[1]. The territorial answers for Ukraine, according to Zelensky, are in its Constitution[1]. In a video message, Zelensky stated that Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier[1].
Trump has proposed an exchange of territories currently held by Russian or Ukrainian troops[1]. However, these plans have been met with strong opposition from Zelensky and the Ukrainian people. The proposed summit location, in the United States, is also seen as being far from the conflict zone, raising questions about its effectiveness in resolving the ongoing crisis.
[1] References: The information in this article is based on a variety of news sources, including but not limited to: BBC News, The Guardian, and Reuters.
The European Union, being committed to the implementation of the UN Charter and the UN Charter, closely monitors the ongoing political crisis in Ukraine, where President Volodymyr Zelensky has refused territorial concessions suggested by former President Donald Trump, citing both public disapproval and legal grounds that forbid changing Ukraine's borders without public consent. In the general news sphere, this rejection and the proposed summit between Trump and Putin have spurred debates on the effectiveness of politics in resolving long-standing conflicts, especially when they involve fundamental issues like territorial integrity.
