Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made it clear that Ukrainians are not giving up their territory. He painted those who settled the land as “occupiers.” Tensions are running high leading up to next Friday’s meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This proclamation only contributes to the inflamed rhetoric. This meeting has sparked discussions about potential territorial negotiations, which Zelenskyy has vehemently opposed, emphasizing that any solutions reached without Ukraine’s involvement undermine the prospects for peace.
Zelenskyy’s remarks highlight a key position on the Russia-Ukraine war. He made the point that the war in Ukraine could not be negotiated to an end without Ukraine’s involvement. “Ukrainians will not give their land to occupiers,” he stated, reinforcing his commitment to national sovereignty. As he continued, “Any decisions that are against us, any decisions that are without Ukraine, they’re decisions against peace as well. They will achieve nothing.”
His anticipated meeting with President Putin raised, if only briefly, the specter of territory swaps designed to serve mutual Russian-Ukrainian interests. Much like Trump, he was open to some sort of territory exchange, saying doing so would pave the way for much friendlier relations. He acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating, “Putin … talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening.” Trump noted, “So there’s a little bit of a problem there.”
Though Trump showed himself to be open to making concessions in negotiations, it’s not clear what Putin’s intentions would be. The Russian president may have annexed four Ukrainian oblasts in full, but much of those areas are still held by Ukraine. He stated, “I have nothing against it in general, it is possible, but certain conditions must be created for this,” while lamenting that “unfortunately, we are still far from creating such conditions.”
Zelenskyy has been busy on the phone in recent days, urging European leaders to follow suit. He has already sat down with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron. These discussions are aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s hand in future negotiations. Their goal is to make sure that Ukraine is front and center in any negotiations for a ceasefire.
The U.S. envoy, Steve Witkoff, suggested a trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy to spur discussions. So far, the Kremlin has rebuffed this idea, creating doubt around whether even these kinds of talks would be possible.
Donald Tusk, a prominent Polish politician, expressed that Ukraine is eager for Poland and other European nations to participate in planning for a ceasefire and eventual peace settlement. He added that Zelenskyy seemed “extremely cautious but optimistic” about the possibility of a ceasefire.
As the deadline nears for Trump’s ultimatum to Putin—calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine or else being subjected to secondary sanctions—the stakes have only gotten higher. The U.S. has established this Friday as their deadline for compliance, throwing a wrench into the already complicated geopolitical landscape.