In a defiant and unequivocal rejection of Russian demands, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that Ukraine will not cede the Donbas region to Russia, warning that such a concession would only serve as a “springboard for a future new offensive.” The powerful statement comes just days before a high-stakes summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, and as reports surface of a fresh Russian advance on the eastern front.
Speaking to journalists, Zelensky warned that abandoning Donbas would not bring peace, but rather pave the way for a “third war.” He drew a parallel to Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, arguing that giving up land would only embolden Moscow. “For the Russians, Donbas is a springboard for a future new offensive. If we leave Donbas of our own accord or under pressure, we will start a third war,” he said.
The Ukrainian president’s comments are a direct challenge to the premise of a potential “land swap” that President Trump has hinted at as a solution to the conflict. While Trump has insisted any deal would be “to the betterment of both” nations, Zelensky has been firm in his position that Ukraine’s territorial integrity, as enshrined in its constitution, is non-negotiable.
The urgency of Zelensky’s statement is underscored by new reports from the battlefield. According to Ukrainian research groups and open-source intelligence, Russian forces have reportedly made a significant breakthrough in the Donetsk region, advancing as much as 17 kilometers north of their previous lines near the town of Dobropillya. This is a massive leap by recent battlefield standards and is raising alarm bells that supply lines to the strategic city of Pokrovsk could be cut.
This new advance, coming just as Russia has signaled its willingness to negotiate, is seen by many in Kyiv as a classic Russian tactic: making military gains to strengthen its hand at the negotiating table. Zelenskyy himself said that Russia “is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire or an end to the war,” and that the new assaults suggest “preparations for new offensive operations.”
The diplomatic chess match now takes center stage as Trump prepares for his meeting with Putin. The summit, which will be the first between the two leaders since 2019, has been a source of anxiety for Ukraine and its European allies, who have insisted that the “path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.”
Zelensky’s rejection of ceding Donbas, combined with Russia’s fresh military advances, paints a grim picture of the immense challenges that lie ahead. The divide between the two sides remains immense, and for now, the war rages on, with the fate of Ukraine’s future hanging in the balance.