Zelensky rules out ceding land to Russia, refusing to bow to Putin or Trump

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

December 8, 2025 at 3:12 p.m. EST


LONDON — Ukraine will not surrender territory, President Volodymyr Zelensky declared on Monday, rejecting a central Russian demand that President Donald Trump had incorporated into his latest proposal to end the Kremlin’s war. “Under our laws, under international law—and under moral law—we have no right to give anything away,” Zelensky said, after meeting with top European leaders to discuss Trump’s plan on Monday. “That is what we are fighting for.”

The unequivocal declaration that Ukraine would not surrender land could mark the collapse of Trump’s latest plan to end the war, which critics condemned as fulfilling a wish list of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky, speaking to journalists aboard his flight following consultations with British, French and German leaders in London, laid out one of his clearest public statements yet on the emerging U.S.-backed proposal. He said the plan had been stripped of what he called “explicitly anti-Ukrainian provisions,” suggesting that Kyiv was open to a deal.

But he stood firm on the issue of land — a view shared by European leaders who have insisted that Putin should not be permitted to redraw recognized international boundaries by force.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/12/08/europe-ukraine-leaders-trump-plan/

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No paywall (gift)

[Lovie777]

1. Good.....................

[hlthe2b]

2. Thank you. I so want Zelensky, the EU, and all of NATO to back Trump down into a hole so deep he cries

"wolf" repeatedly, hourly, and until he leaves office--one way or another.

[not fooled]

3. Yeah, I hope this indicates that the EU will support Ukraine

to a sufficient level, now that the former Land of the Free has thrown in with pootin.

The EU realizes what ruzzia's "sphere of influence" entails.

[Leghorn21]

4. DAMN SKIPPY

RESPECT
to the hardest working man on the planet 🇺🇦💛💙

[sheshe2]

5. Slave Ukraini.

And FU trump.

[OldBaldy1701E]

23. Hear Hear! (n/t)

[sheshe2]

25. ...

[BOSSHOG]

6. YOU DA MAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY

Gosh, if only the US had a real Patriot and a real man as President. Unfortunately people who dont give a fuck about our country vote.

[SupportSanity]

40. And people who don't give a f@@k about Ukraine

also vote. They follow Russia lover Trump and share his sympathy to Russia. Unfortunately.

[littlemissmartypants]

7. 🌻🇺🇦❤️🇺🇦🌻 Slava Ukraini! 🌻🇺🇦❤️🇺🇦🌻

[C Moon]

8. putin would take and keep taking.

[BootinUp]

9. But Niall Ferguson just wrote that this latest proposal by tRump could really succeed! nt

[MustLoveBeagles]

10. Good

Why should he cede any land? It was his country that was attacked.

[Rocknation]

12. Exactly -- they were invaded with no provocation

UN-invade them, problem solved, peace accomplished!


Rocknation

[duckworth969]

11. Yes!

[bluestarone]

13. That's the right way!! TYVM!

Lot of Americans in your corner Volodymyr. Be safe though, they want you gone from this planet.

[maxsolomon]

14. Remember how the world worked before WW1?

Conquering territory from other nations through war is how human history worked. Putin believes we're back to normalcy, and we might be. Certainly Trump DGAF. India and China DGAF.

What's been the repercussions to China for taking Tibet? Nothing. The cost to Russia for taking Karelia from the Finns? Nothing. Russia taking the Konigsberg/Kaliningrad exclave from Germany at the end of WW2? Nothing.

Ukraine may not cede the land, but they will be hard-pressed to retake what's been lost. Zelenskyy knows this.

What is short of formal cession? Calling it "Occupied Territory"?

[2na fisherman]

15. 1930's Redux

A diplomatic policy of appeasement didn't work then and it won't work now. How can these painful lessons of history be ignored? Answer: the traitorous greed and corruption of the so-called negotiators.

[electric_blue68]

16. NO LAND for THIEVING, DICTATOR Putin! 🌻🇺🇦🌻

FU, Putin and drumphf!

[twodogsbarking]

17. Maybe our elected leaders should be speaking up as much as, well, Zelenskyy, or Mark Kelly.

[blue-wave]

18. Good!

No appeasement of the invader!

Slava Ukraini!! Heroyam Slava!! Slava NaViki!!

Ukraine! Have your Flamingos at the ready!! Show Putin what you can do.

[Safe as Milk]

19. Zelenskyy should be admired by ALL OF US. n/t

[Raine]

20. GOOD ... Glory to Ukraine! 🌻🇺🇦🌻nt

[Jack Valentino]

21. Volodymyr Zelensky is not Neville Chamberlain

but maybe Trump is.

[jfz9580m]

22. Good..he shouldn't cede any land

Bullying and extortion must not prevail..

[Martin68]

24. Hold on, Zelensky, you will prevail. I wish the US had fully backed you, as we should have, but Ukraine will survive

intact because of your courage, and the courage of the Ukrainian people. When Democrats get back into power, we will help you rebuild.

[yellow dahlia]

26. Dignity and integrity!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

27. But what about my Nobel Prize? Donny Dementia

[Xipe Totec]

28. As they say in Mexico: Por eso fue el pleito - That's the whole reason for the brawl

To protect sovereign territory. Why the fuck would we give it away in exchange for "peace"?

[Skittles]

29. PREACH IT, VOLODYMYR

DON'T GIVE AN INCH TO THOSE FASCIST FUCKS

[Bayard]

30. Most excellent news!

When Zelenski says he can't give away land, that also means Russia can't just seize their land, including Crimea. trump is still bellyaching that Ukraine hasn't given up on getting it back. "Ukrainian resistance to permanently losing Crimea was making “it so difficult to settle this war,” warning that Ukraine risked losing “the whole country.” Its most certainly not trump's right to give away Ukrainian land.

Face it, donnie--your plan sucked, and nobody wanted it except you and Vlad.

[LudwigPastorius]

31. Fuck yes.

[Historic NY]

32. Fuck Trump

[Dan]

33. I strongly suspect that before Trump is worm bait

We the nation will discover/uncover that Trump was/is a Russian agent doing Putin's bidding.

I often wonder what information was revealed to members of Congress that Moscow Mitch was so adamant not be revealed during Trump's first term.

When that information (whatever it is) is revealed I truly hope that Trump (his family), enablers (especially Mitch) and members of the Supreme Court, members of the Congress, the Media and the pod casters that made Trump possible, be tried for sedition.

Because even if Trump hasn't torn the nation apart he has truly broken us as a nation.

[niyad]

38. We have known that he is since before he ran in 2015.

[Janbdwl72]

34. This is no surprise to those of us who have followed this Ukraine-Russia conflict from the outset

But one of the bravest leaders in the world has made his feelings clear, along with importantly, the feelings of the overwhelming majority of Ukraine citizens.

If the Felon had any intelligence, credibility, honest decency or true compassion for an American ally, he has not come close to showing it.

I cannot imagine any other previous occupant of the White House, under either party, who is more morally bankrupt and less of a true American.

[moonshinegnomie]

35. Ukraine and the EU should take the following actions

1) the eu will supply and weapons Ukraine needs.
2) the eu should start using frozen Russian assets to pay for weapons
3) if the us cuts Ukraine off they should then refuse and mediation by the us in peace talks.
4) theceu should start supplying drones to Ukraine to target russias weapon factories

[Botany]

36. How much of Eastern France did Germany get to keep after WW II?

That is Ukrainian land, the Ukrainian people should not be forced to live under Russian rule,
the strategic rare eating minerals are owned by Ukraine now matter how many people that
Vlad will kill to get them for Musk, and the rightful owners of the Crimea, the Crimean Tatars
have been fighting for years to return to their homeland.

If Vlad really wants peace then he can just bring his troops home.

[Joinfortmill]

37. God Bless him and Ukraine!!

[Zertz11]

39. Met with Pope Leo today

Zelenskyy had a meeting with Pope Leo this morning at Castel Gandolfo

[calimary]

41. God bless him! Love this quote of his:

“Under our laws, under international law—and under moral law—we have no right to give anything away”.

Love it! It speaks for everybody, even those in denial.

[dlk]

42. Why should he cede any land?

If Russia attacked Alaska, should we just hand it over?

[Chrysanthemum]

43. Consider United24 in your holiday giving

Go here https://u24.gov.ua/ to donate to Ukraine. United24 is the official Ukrainian government website, set up by Zelensky, to allow people from all over the world to contribute to Ukraine's noble cause.

You can choose among quite a few categories for where you would like to give. For example: Defense (to support the military, and this is where I give), Medical Aid, Education and Science, Humanitarian Demining, Rebuilding Ukraine. All are truly worthy and urgent causes.

Be Santa's helper, and give to Ukraine!

Slava Ukraini!!!