Media: Zelensky refused to transfer the entire Donbas to Russia in exchange for a peace agreement

Zelensky rejected Russia's offer to hand over all of Donbas in exchange for peace

According to Reuters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky categorically refused the proposal to transfer the entire Donbas territory to Russia in exchange for a peace agreement. This information emerged after yesterday's conversation between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, who had previously met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

"The Russian leader (during yesterday's negotiations with Trump - ed.) proposed freezing most of the front lines if Kyiv's forces ceded the entire Donetsk region - an industrial area that is one of Moscow's main objectives. Zelensky rejected this demand," the agency reports, citing an informed source.

Earlier, Trump expressed the opinion that Ukraine should seek an agreement to end military operations with Russia due to the inequality in scale between the two countries. The US President also agreed with Putin's position that seeking a peace agreement is possible without a preliminary ceasefire, which Ukraine and its European allies had persistently demanded, enjoying Washington's support on this issue.

Zelensky has repeatedly emphasized that he does not have the authority to cede territories without amendments to Ukraine's constitution. Additionally, Kyiv considers Donetsk "fortress cities" such as Sloviansk and Kramatorsk as strategically important defensive lines preventing further Russian advancement into Ukrainian territories.