Zelensky: We will never leave Donbas and 200,000 Ukrainians who live there

He made the remarks in an interview with Corriere della Sera, Ukrinform reports.

According to Zelensky, Ukraine has security guarantees from the United States, but the American side wants to formalize them only within the context of an agreement with Russia. “I disagree on this point, but that's how it is. We also have the protocol with the Europeans ready, but it's also unsigned. There are agreements on our reconstruction, but they can only begin after peace. But all this isn't enough,” Zelensky said.

He noted that negotiating teams from Ukraine, the United States, and Russia are “stuck” on a 20-point peace plan and the issue of territorial control. “The Americans are thinking of a territory swap, the Russians want us to withdraw. The swap isn't in our interest,” Zelensky stressed.

In this context, negotiations are focused on control over part of Donbas covering about 5,800 square kilometers, he added.

Zelensky also said that he agreed to a U.S. proposal to diplomatically freeze the front line, despite internal debate in Ukraine.

“I embraced the diplomatic route, I accepted the US proposal to freeze the front line. Many of us disagreed with this compromise, but I followed Donald Trump to at least end the fighting. The Russians, however, refused and want our complete withdrawal from Donbass,” he said, adding that the Americans also proposed demilitarized zones and free economic zones on both sides of the front line.

“I said it should apply to both sides, but the Russians replied that it should only be on our side. It's pure madness,” the President said.

When asked whether Ukraine would be ready to withdraw its troops from the Donetsk region if security were guaranteed by foreign contingents instead, Zelensky said that, first, Russia does not want foreign troops in Ukraine, and second, Ukraine is not ready to leave Donbas, where about 200,000 Ukrainians live.

At the same time, he emphasized that Russia cannot decide the issue of deploying foreign troops in Ukraine.

“I want to be clear: I will never leave Donbas and the 200,000 Ukrainians who live there. Why on earth should I do that? Because Putin imposes it as a condition for peace? And will he immediately impose new demands? No, I'm not having it,” the Ukrainian President said.

Zelensky also noted that even if the United States were to deploy its troops to provide on-the-ground security guarantees, risks would remain. “I don't want to draw parallels, but let's remember the withdrawal from Afghanistan. What will happen if in 10 years, not Trump but another US president decides to withdraw his troops? We need a strong Ukrainian defense line,” he emphasized.

According to the President, Ukraine seeks dialogue and peace. “At the same time, however, we are trying to be strong, we are producing technical resources and more drones to make up for the shortage of soldiers. We are diversifying the forms of warfare that allow us to resist,” he explained.

Zelensky also said that Russia is suffering heavy losses – up to 35,000 troops per month. “It's a gigantic number. Now Putin is about to mobilize 400,000 new soldiers, but his army has stopped growing, the losses are equal to the new recruits, they are immobilized, close to crisis. Serious negotiations will begin when his army starts to shrink,” the President believes.

As Ukrinform previously reported, Zelensky said after talks in Geneva that there was progress on military issues, specifically monitoring a ceasefire, while on political issues – territories, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and other sensitive matters – the positions of the parties remain different.