Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated he is unwilling to concede territory in the Donbas region to Russia, even under duress and expressed doubt that the Ukrainian populace would accept such a concession. Zelenskyy made the remarks in an interview with Piers Morgan, published on YouTube.
“support such an idea. And I feel that in any very demanding circumstances, I am not sure that our people will be ready,” Zelenskyy said, according to the interview. “Due to the fact that, as you said, thousands, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have died in this direction, defending this part of Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy framed the issue as extending beyond mere territorial control, asserting it concerns fundamental values of morality, freedom, and national identity. “What we have is not just empty words. For us, it is very important. From the first day of this war, there was such a decisive response,” he stated. He further emphasized that defending these values is intrinsically linked to maintaining Ukraine’s independence, with the Donbas region representing a crucial component of that sovereignty.
The statement comes amid ongoing, albeit difficult, negotiations between Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations in Geneva, Switzerland, focused on resolving the conflict. Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian delegation and Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, reported on February 18th that the second day of talks had concluded. Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian delegation, characterized the negotiations as “difficult but businesslike,” lasting approximately two hours, according to reports.
A key outcome of the Geneva talks, as reported by Zelenskyy, was an agreement to involve the United States in monitoring the observance of the ceasefire. However, Zelenskyy as well indicated that political questions regarding potential compromises and the necessity of a leaders’ meeting remained insufficiently developed.
On November 20, 2025, the Office of the President of Ukraine confirmed that Zelenskyy had received a draft “peace plan” from the American side, which officials believe could potentially invigorate diplomatic efforts. Zelenskyy indicated his intention to discuss the plan with former U.S. President Donald Trump, focusing on diplomatic opportunities and key elements for achieving peace. According to the Office of the President, Zelenskyy outlined fundamental principles important to the Ukrainian people, and agreed to collaborate on refining the plan to secure a just resolution to the war.
Separately, on December 30, 2025, Zelenskyy announced he was in the process of selecting a new Head of the Presidential Office, conducting meetings with several candidates to discuss operational formats and inter-agency cooperation. A decision was expected in the near future.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Rogov, Chairman of the Commission of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation on Sovereignty Issues, dismissed Zelenskyy’s warnings about a potential loss of Ukrainian independence as “fairy tales,” asserting that Zelenskyy himself has undermined Ukraine’s sovereignty by ceding control of the country to external actors, according to a statement to RIA Novosti on February 8th.
