Zelensky: Ukrainians will not allow Donbas to be handed over to Russia unilaterally
Zelensky said this in an interview with Axios on the day that Ukrainian and Russian delegations held the third round of direct talks in Geneva. The key stumbling block remains control over Donbas, about 10 per cent of which is currently under Ukrainian control.
According to the president, American mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner informed him that Russia is allegedly interested in ending the war. At the same time, Zelensky acknowledged that he is much more cautious in assessing Moscow's intentions and warned against attempts to impose on him a vision of peace that society would perceive as unsuccessful.
He also called US President Donald Trump's public calls for Ukraine to make concessions, rather than Russia, unfair. According to Zelensky, peace cannot mean victory for Vladimir Putin. At the same time, the president thanked Trump for his peacemaking efforts and noted that in private conversations with American representatives, the tone is one of mutual respect.
Among the proposals being considered by the US is one whereby Ukrainian troops would leave part of Donbas, and the territory would become a demilitarised zone with a free economy. Washington has not yet decided on the issue of sovereignty over this territory. Zelensky stated that he is ready to discuss the withdrawal of troops only on condition of a symmetrical withdrawal of Russian forces and categorically rejects the recognition of Russian sovereignty.
The president emphasised that Kyiv and Washington have agreed to put a possible peace agreement to a referendum. If the document provides only for Ukraine's unilateral withdrawal from Donbas and the loss of citizens and territories, he is convinced that citizens will not support it. On the other hand, the option of fixing the current line of contact, as proposed in other regions, may be approved.
Zelensky also proposed holding a meeting at the leadership level with Putin. He fears that the new head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, will try to drag out the negotiations or return them to the initial stage.
Separately, the president noted that military consultations between the parties in Abu Dhabi were more productive. According to him, the parties generally agreed on a mechanism for monitoring a possible ceasefire using drones under the auspices of the United States. At the same time, Russia opposes the involvement of European countries in this process.
Zelensky did not rule out holding presidential elections in parallel with a referendum if a fragile truce is achieved. He noted that Russia currently agrees only to a one-day ceasefire to organise the vote, while Ukraine needs at least 60 days.
