As talks about the war between Russia and Ukraine get more heated, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that Kyiv will not give in to pressure to give up land. His solid position is setting the tone and direction for any possible peace deal, especially since it’s still unclear whether there will be high-level talks between the US, Russia, and Ukraine.
Not giving up land
Zelenskyy has been clear from the start that he doesn’t support any plan that would give Russia land in Ukraine. He said, “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier,” and warned that any arrangement made without Kyiv’s approval would be a “dead decision” that would fail. This view fits with Ukraine’s greater belief that borders between nations can’t be changed by force.
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Ukraine’s Role in the Talks
Zelenskyy says that Ukraine must be actively involved in any peace process for it to be real. He has said many times that “the way to peace for Ukraine should be decided together and only together with Ukraine.” He is clear with his allies and mediators: Ukraine must be a participant in any decisions about Ukraine, or they won’t work.
Pushback Against Putin’s Way of Doing Things
Zelenskyy has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to “legalise the occupation” of parts of Ukraine. He says that Putin’s only bargaining chip is “the ability to kill,” and he says that Moscow is trying to get big concessions in exchange for halting the violence. Zelenskyy says that these kinds of tactics are wrong and go towards the rules of fairness and safety.
Conditions for a Stop to Fighting
Kyiv knows that preventing the fighting is urgent, but Zelenskyy has made it clear that a ceasefire must not make Russia’s territorial gains legal. He said, “the front line is not a border,” which implies that temporary stops in fighting can’t be utilised as a basis for permanent territorial division.
Working together diplomatically with allies
Zelenskyy has been in touch with leaders in the US and Europe all the time, working hard to retain their support and make sure their strategies are in line. His participation in recent high-level talks at Chevening House in the UK with US and European officials was seen as helpful. His chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said that Ukraine would not give up any land.
Being open to a three-way summit
The president of Ukraine has said that a three-way summit between him, US President Donald Trump, and Vladimir Putin is the “only way to make progress towards peace.” The White House was thinking about the idea, but Russia has said it won’t meet with Zelenskyy until the “final phase” of negotiations, saying that conditions need to be agreed upon ahead of time.
The Road Ahead
Zelenskyy’s determination is both a problem and a guiding principle for peace efforts as pressure from other countries grows. He wants a solution that protects sovereignty without rewarding aggression by denying to give up land and stating that Ukraine be included in every stage of the talks. It’s not clear yet if the next summits will help Kyiv and Moscow get together better, but Zelenskyy has made one thing clear: Ukraine’s future will be decided with Ukraine, not without it.
