“If today we leave Donbas, from our fortifications, from our reliefs, from the heights that we control, we will clearly open a bridgehead for preparing an offensive by the Russians. In a few years, Putin will have an open path to both the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro regions. And not only that. Also to Kharkiv.” Trump said on Monday that a peace settlement would require “land swapping” done by both Ukraine and Russia, but did not specify which territories are on the table. “If it’s a fair deal, I will reveal it to the European Union leaders and the NATO leaders and also to President Zelenskyy,” Trump said. “I may say, ‘lots of luck, keep fighting,’ or I may say we can make a deal.”
Behind the scenes, the U.S. has suggested that Ukraine might offer Donbas in exchange for Russia stopping its offensive in the south, according to someone with knowledge of the discussions.
“Any issue of territories cannot be separated from security guarantees. Otherwise, now they want to give them about 9,000 square kilometres, which is about 30 percent of the Donetsk region, and this is a bridgehead for their new aggression,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president also criticised the idea of exchanging territory as if it were a real estate transaction.
“I am not going to surrender my country, because I have no right to do so,” Zelenskyy said. “The state is what, private property? 30 percent of the Donetsk region is what, my private property? Or yours? Or someone else’s? The exchange of territories is a very complex issue that cannot be separated from security guarantees for Ukraine, for our sovereign state and our people.”
While supporting Trump’s aim to end the war quickly, Zelenskyy emphasised that a lasting ceasefire must come first before any meaningful talks can happen. “Any productive talks without [Ukraine] at the table will not work for us. They are possible, but they will not be accepted by us.”
Ukraine’s president said he is unsure what Trump will discuss with Putin during their meeting but hopes Trump will advocate for a ceasefire—and ideally also push for sanctions.
