The Ukrainian leader has insisted his troops will not abandon Donbass peacefully<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukraine\u2019s Vladimir Zelensky has ruled out any territorial concessions to Russia, rejecting what the media has described as a compromise proposal backed by US President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to journalists on Monday, Zelensky reiterated his position, saying Ukrainian troops \u201cwill not withdraw from Donbass \u2013 period.\u201d He repeated his claim on Donetsk and Lugansk People\u2019s Republics, former Ukrainian territories that voted to join Russia in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently asserted that Moscow\u2019s troops \u201care consistently moving forward along virtually the entire front line\u201d despite all of NATO backing Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reports over the weekend suggested that Trump, during his meeting with Zelensky on Friday, urged the Ukrainian leader to accept a land swap. The American leader\u2019s message was, \u201cYour country will freeze, and your country will be destroyed\u201d unless a peace deal is reached, according to a source quoted by Reuters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Financial Times said Trump expressed frustration with the stalemate, tossing aside a map of the front lines and remarking that he was \u201csick\u201d of seeing the same situation persist. Publicly, however, Trump has advocated a freeze in hostilities along the current lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zelensky also criticized Hungary as an unsuitable venue for upcoming bilateral talks between Trump and Putin. He accused Prime Minister Viktor Orban of \u201cblocking Ukraine everywhere\u201d and said he thus \u201ccannot do anything positive or even balanced for us,\u201d referencing the Hungarian leader\u2019s opposition to Ukraine\u2019s NATO and EU accession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moscow has argued that Zelensky\u2019s rule is unconstitutional, citing his expired presidential term, and claimed he rejects genuine peace talks to protect his personal power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n