Zelensky Refuses to Concede Territory: "No Compensation for Russia's Wrongdoing"

As the United States and Russia have agreed to discuss the issue of Ukraine at a summit next week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that he will not concede any territory to Russia.

AFP Yonhap News

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On the 9th (local time), President Zelensky wrote on the social media platform Telegram, "The answer to the issue of Ukrainian territory is found in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one can go beyond this," and added, "Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupiers." He further stated, "Even those who support Russia know that Russia is committing evil," and emphasized, "We will not compensate Russia for what it has done."

This statement came immediately after the United States announced that President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to hold a summit on August 15 in Alaska to discuss the issue of Ukraine.

In particular, President Trump told reporters at the White House that day, "This is territory that has been fought over for three and a half years. It is very complicated," adding, "We will get some of it back and some will be exchanged. There will be a territorial exchange so that improvements are made for both sides."

The White House is reportedly exploring a proposal with European countries under which Russia would retain the entirety of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine and the forcibly annexed Crimean Peninsula, according to sources cited by CBS News.

Initially, a trilateral summit between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine was being pursued. However, after Russia refused, the focus shifted to a US-Russia summit.

President Zelensky stressed that no decision excluding Ukraine can be accepted. This remark reflects concerns that, with the possibility of a trilateral summit being virtually nonexistent, an agreement unfavorable to Ukraine could result from the talks.

He said, "Ukraine is ready to make real decisions that will bring peace," and emphasized, "Any decision made against us, any decision made without Ukraine, is a decision against peace and will achieve nothing. Such a decision is dead on arrival."

President Zelensky also stated, "We are ready to cooperate with President Trump and all our partners for genuine and lasting peace," and stressed, "This is a peace that will not collapse because of Moscow's ambitions."

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