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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday firmly rejected any unilateral territorial concessions to Russia, stating that any agreement concerning Ukraine’s borders must be decided directly by the Ukrainian people through either elections or a referendum.
His remarks come as Kyiv continues negotiations with the United States over a proposed settlement plan, which reportedly includes the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from parts of the eastern Donetsk region to create a so-called "demilitarized" or "free economic zone."
Under this proposal, Russian troops would be barred from entering the zone but would not be required to pull back from their current positions in the region.
Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about the viability of the proposed zone, citing unresolved concerns about how such an area would be controlled and monitored, and how Russian infiltration could be prevented under the pretense of civilian movement. "That model is not in Ukraine’s interests," he said, although he confirmed that discussions with international partners are ongoing in search of "fair solutions" that provide real security guarantees.
According to Ukrainian officials, the proposal reflects a continued U.S. position conveyed in a 28-point plan sent to both Kyiv and Moscow last month. Zelenskyy noted that the framework disproportionately favors Russia, allowing Moscow to retain control over large areas in the south and withdraw only from northern regions it has not claimed to annex.
Ukraine has responded with its own 20-point counterproposal. The full content of Kyiv’s response has not been made public.
Zelenskyy outlined that two major points of disagreement remain: the status of the Donetsk region and control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. He underscored that the U.S. proposal envisions Ukrainian troops leaving Donetsk while Russian forces simply avoid advancing further into that area—an approach he dismissed as insufficient.
He reiterated his long-standing view that he has neither the constitutional authority nor the moral right to concede Ukrainian territory, emphasizing that only the Ukrainian public can determine the country's territorial future. "There must be a position from the people of Ukraine," he stated.
The Ukrainian leader also questioned why the proposed plan does not call for symmetrical action from Russian forces. "Why doesn’t the other side of the war pull back the same distance in the other direction?" he asked, pointing to a range of unanswered questions surrounding the terms of the plan.
Under current suggestions, Russia would withdraw from parts of Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk regions—areas where it has not made formal annexation claims—but maintain positions in regions like Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, which it formally claimed to annex in 2022, despite never fully controlling them.
Much of the country’s east and south remains devastated by combat, with tens of thousands killed and millions displaced since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
As the conflict grinds on, Washington is reportedly aiming to establish a basic framework for a peace deal by Christmas. Zelenskyy confirmed that while no strict deadlines have been imposed, US officials have expressed a desire for a clearer understanding of the negotiation status by the holiday.
"There were no specific, ultimatum-style date constraints," he said, but noted that the U.S. "genuinely wanted, and perhaps still wants, to have a full understanding by Christmas."
U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly sidelined European partners in favor of a direct diplomatic track led by his envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, although Ukraine’s European allies continue to hold consultations via videoconference.
Despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Zelenskyy said he has seen no sign that Russia is prepared to stop its invasion. "In my view, they need a pause. They need it, but they’re not taking it. I don’t see any sign that they want to end the war," he added
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