Zelenskyy warns Putin wants rest of Ukraine’s Donbas region as part of ceasefire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants Kyiv to withdraw from the remaining parts of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region that it controls as part of a ceasefire deal.

Speaking at a press briefing in the Ukrainian capital, Zelenskyy said Putin wants control over the 9,000 square kilometres of Donetsk under Kyiv’s control, where the war’s toughest battles are grinding on.

He then reiterated that Ukraine would not withdraw from its own land, saying that would be unconstitutional and would serve only as a springboard for a future Russian invasion.

“We will not leave Donbas. We cannot do this. Everyone forgets the first part—our territories are illegally occupied,” Zelenskyy told reporters at the briefing on Tuesday. “Donbas for the Russians is a springboard for a future new offensive.”

According to the Ukrainian leader, this is what occurred when Russia illegally annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

In September 2022, Russia illegally and unilaterally annexed parts of Donetsk and Luhansk, the two administrative territories that comprise Ukraine's Donbas region, in a move rejected by Kyiv and the international community alike.

Zelenskyy learned of plan from US officials

The comments come as US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin prepare to meet in Alaska on Friday.

It also comes as Russian forces on the ground have been closing in on a key territorial grab around the city of Pokrovsk.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said diplomatic discussions led by the US, focusing on ending Moscow's war, have not touched on security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent future Russian aggression, and that meeting formats currently being discussed do not include Europe’s participation, both key demands of Kyiv.

Zelenskyy said the necessity of territorial concessions was conveyed to him by US officials ahead of Friday's summit in Alaska and in further meetings at the level of national security officials.

A call with Trump and special envoy Steve Witkoff after the latter’s bilateral meeting with Putin gave more details about this, he said.

Witkoff reportedly told Zelenskyy that Russia was ready to end the war and that there should be territorial concessions from both sides. Some European partners were also part of the call.

Seeking Trump’s ear before Friday's summit

It remains unclear whether Ukraine would take part in the Alaska summit. European leaders have also been left out of the meeting.

The concerns are growing as Europeans and Ukraine are wary that Putin, who has waged the biggest land war in Europe since 1945 and used Russia’s energy might to try to intimidate the EU, might secure favourable concessions from Trump and set the outlines of a peace deal without them.

This Wednesday, European leaders are expected to make a fresh attempt to rally Trump to Ukraine’s cause at virtual meetings convened by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Trump did not confirm whether he would take part, but did say on Monday, “I’m going to get everybody’s ideas,” before meeting with Putin.

Trump has said he wants to see whether Putin is serious about ending Russia's war, now in its fourth year.

Washington suggested a bilateral meeting with Russia, followed by a trilateral meeting with Ukraine, Zelenskyy said on Tuesday, referring to the arrangement for the current ceasefire talks.

Europe is the only partner that can ensure security, especially as they were the ones funding the Ukrainian army, Zelenskyy said, explaining the importance of having their presence in the talks.