Discussions on the 20-point agreement aimed at ending the war have stalled over the issue of territories. Russia is demanding that Ukraine withdraw from Donbas, while the United States is proposing a territorial exchange, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere.
Such an exchange is not in Ukraine’s interests, he noted. Moscow would require significant resources to control the territories if Ukraine were to leave them.
“They know that we would like to regain what they took from us. Why should we exchange our territory for something else that is part of our homeland?” the president said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy added that the United States wants to sign security guarantees for Ukraine only in conjunction with an agreement with Russia.
“I disagree with this point, but that is the current position. We also have a ready protocol with the Europeans, but it remains unsigned. There are agreements on our reconstruction, but they can only begin after peace,” he said.
The president added that he considers Russia’s demand for the unilateral withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas to be pure madness. For Ukraine, the compromise would be a freeze of the front line at its current position.
“Firstly, the Russians do not want foreign troops in Ukraine. I believe Europe should take a firmer stance on this issue. I am not going to question whether there are foreign troops in Russia — for example, 10,000 North Korean soldiers. I do not understand why Moscow should decide which troops are stationed on our land,” he said.
Zelenskyy added that he would “never leave Donbas” or the Ukrainians who live there.
“Why should I do that? Because Putin is imposing it as a condition for peace? And will he immediately make new demands? No, I will not tolerate that. Besides, our strongest defensive positions are here; if we withdraw our troops, the Russians will have a free path to the centre of the country. Let us imagine that it is not Europeans but Americans who send their troops — for how long? I do not want to draw direct parallels, but let us remember the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. What will happen if, in 10 years’ time, it is not Trump but another US president who decides to withdraw those troops? We need a strong Ukrainian line of defence,” the president said.
Context
Since November 2025, work has been under way on an agreement intended to end the war. The first draft was brought to Ukraine by the United States and contained unacceptable conditions. It was subsequently amended and reduced to 20 points. Discussions are continuing at trilateral meetings between Ukraine, Russia and the United States.
There is no consensus on the issue of territories. Russia demands that Ukraine withdraw its troops from the free part of Donbas. The United States proposes a “demilitarised zone” there. There has also been discussion of Russia withdrawing from the border regions of Sumy and Kharkiv in return. However, Ukraine maintains that the enemy will not be able to hold these territories for long in any case, and therefore there can be no exchange involving Donbas. In addition, Russia seeks control of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant; Ukraine proposes joint management with the United States, while the United States suggests trilateral management.
In addition to the 20-point agreement, Ukraine and its partners have developed documents on security guarantees and post-war reconstruction, including investment mechanisms. The United States wants to sign guarantees only alongside a final agreement to end the war, while Ukraine insists that guarantees must precede it. These guarantees must clearly define the role of each partner in the event of a renewed Russian attack and set a precise date for EU accession, so that Russia cannot obstruct Ukraine’s integration.