Zelenskyy rejects Trump's proposal that Ukraine could swap territories with Russia

[Emrys]

Last edited Sat Aug 9, 2025, 08:20 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: NBC News

"Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier," Zelenskyy said in a Telegram message early Saturday.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defiantly declared Saturday that his countrymen “will not give their land to occupiers,” after President Donald Trump suggested that a peace deal would include some “swapping” of territories with Russia.

“The answer to Ukraine’s territorial question is already in the constitution of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in a message on Telegram early Saturday. “No one will and no one can deviate from it. Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.”

His comments came after Trump announced on Truth Social that a long-awaited meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin had been scheduled for next Friday in Alaska.
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White House official also said Friday that the Russians have provided a list of demands for a potential ceasefire for the war in Ukraine, and the U.S. is trying to get buy-in from Ukrainians and European allies.




Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/ukraine/zelenskyy-rejects-trumps-proposal-ukraine-swap-territories-russia-rcna224022

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It's deja vu all over again all over again. It was only a few months ago that similar categorical demands from Putin channelled slavishly via emissary Witkoff led to abandonment of talks, amid a shortlived "ceasfire" that Putin predictably didn't bother to observe.

This is the most recent public address by Zelensky, translated via Anton Gerashchenko:

"Ukrainians defend what's theirs. Even those who are with Russia know that Russia is doing evil. Of course, we will not reward Russia for what it has perpetrated. The Ukrainian people deserve peace. But all partners must understand what a dignified peace is. This war must be brought to an end – and Russia must end it. Russia started it and is dragging it out, ignoring all deadlines, and that is the problem, not something else.

The answer to the Ukrainian territorial question already is in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one will deviate from this – and no one will be able to. Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier.

Ukraine is ready for real decisions that can bring peace. Any decisions that are against us, any decisions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not achieve anything. These are stillborn decisions. They are unworkable decisions. And we all need real and genuine peace. Peace that people will respect. We are ready to work together with President Trump, together with all our partners for real and, most importantly, lasting peace. A peace that will not collapse because of Moscow's desires.

I thank all our people for being together. Ukraine is. I thank all our soldiers for preserving our independence. Stand firm, this is our land, we are Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!"

As for European "buy-in", leaders of the Baltic countries have reacted to Trump's latest wheeze to seemingly bully Ukraine into conceding territory to Russia, expressing fears that if a precedent is set, their countries may be next, with Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsankna reported as saying that "changing borders by force threatens global stability and will not be tolerated".

The reactions from the rest of the significant European powers, at the moment also frozen out of the talks, are unlikely to differ much.

How much the public statements so far are kite-flying is, as ever, unclear. Russian outlets were forerunners in breaking the news of proposed concessions, no doubt wishing to present a fait accompli and strengthen Putin's hand in the "negotiations", and the media were very quick to run with them. Covering the daily grind in Eukraine can make for tedious copy, so supposedly sensational "breakthrough" news is more likely to garner clicks.