Zelenskyy Rejects Territorial Concessions to Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected Vladimir Putin's proposal to freeze fighting in exchange for control of the Donetsk province in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, warning that this could be used as a springboard for future attacks.

According to the BBC, Putin's proposal, allegedly made to Trump in Alaska, would require approval from the Ukrainian parliament. Zelenskyy refused to cede control of the region to Russia in exchange for a ceasefire.

"If we withdraw from Donbas today, we will open a bridgehead for the Russians," he said. A Reuters source reported that Trump tried to persuade Zelenskyy to agree to a deal to withdraw troops from Donetsk.

Zelenskyy replied that this was not possible. The proposal contradicts EU warnings that Ukraine's territorial integrity must be respected. People familiar with Zelenskyy's positions said he would be open to discussing the territorial issue with Trump in Washington.

Reuters reports that Russia already controls one-fifth of Ukraine, including about three-quarters of the Donetsk province. According to the Financial Times, the westernmost chain of cities remains under Ukrainian control.

Source: cnn.gr