Zelenskyy refuses Putin's call for Ukraine's withdrawal from the Donetsk region.
In a significant development, Ukraine, through President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has categorically rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's territorial demands in the Donetsk region. Zelenskyy called these demands unconstitutional and warned that conceding the territory would serve as a springboard for a future Russian invasion.
The rejection comes after Zelenskyy learned of Russia's stance following a call with U.S. President Donald Trump and special envoy Steve Witkoff. The demands propose that Ukraine cede the remaining 30% of Donetsk Oblast it controls—approximately 9,000 square kilometers—as part of a ceasefire deal. This would hand Russia nearly all of the Donbas, Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland.
However, Zelenskyy and European leaders have strongly opposed such territorial concessions, noting the strategic and defensive importance of the remaining Ukrainian-held parts of Donbas and the valuable resources they contain. Ukraine considers any forced territorial concessions unconstitutional under its laws.
Russian forces are currently closing in on a key territorial grab around the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. The next 24-48 hours could be critical in the battles in the Donetsk region, with losing Pokrovsk potentially handing Russia an important victory ahead of the summit between Trump and Putin, scheduled for Friday in Alaska.
The situation in the Donetsk region is described as difficult, unpleasant, and dynamic by the region's Ukrainian military command. The war's toughest battles are currently grinding on in the Donetsk region, with Ukraine's military fending off Russian infantry units trying to infiltrate their defensive positions.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to convene virtual meetings on Wednesday to rally Trump to Ukraine's cause. However, the summit format remains uncertain regarding Ukraine's participation. The U.S. has proposed a bilateral meeting between the U.S. and Russia, followed by a trilateral meeting that would include Ukraine. However, Europe's presence is important for Kyiv because they are the only partners offering security guarantees and funding for the Ukrainian army.
European Union leaders have appealed to Trump to protect their interests, expressing concerns about being sidelined from the meeting. This news was disclosed by Zelenskyy during a press briefing in Kyiv.
Analyst Pasi Paroinen, from the Finland-based Black Bird Group, has stated that a lot will depend on the availability, quantity, and quality of Ukrainian reserves. The situation in the Donetsk region remains tense, and the international community continues to watch developments closely.
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