(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Ukrainian forces will not voluntarily leave the areas they currently hold in Donbass, rejecting suggestions that the territory could be part of a potential swap deal with Russia.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Zelensky argued that ceding land to Russia would only provide Moscow with a “springboard” to launch a new offensive in a few years and deepen its advances into Ukraine. He emphasized that any discussion of territorial concessions must be tied to security guarantees, warning that giving up around 9,000 square kilometers—roughly 30% of Donetsk—would leave Ukraine vulnerable to further aggression.

The comments follow US President Donald Trump’s remarks that a peace deal between Moscow and Kiev would likely require territorial concessions from both sides. Trump noted that Russia currently occupies “prime territory” and that some land would need to be recovered for Ukraine.

The Lugansk (LPR) and Donetsk (DPR) People’s Republics, along with Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, joined Russia after 2022 referendums. While Russia has fully secured LPR earlier this year, control over the other territories remains partial. Ukraine continues to claim these regions, as well as Crimea, which joined Russia following the 2014 Western-backed coup in Kiev. Zelensky maintains that no territorial concessions will be made, despite Moscow insisting that any peace agreement must involve Ukrainian troop withdrawal from the newly Russian-controlled areas.

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