As U.S. President Donald Trump presses Ukraine to accept a cease-fire proposal, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky repeated that he will not accept "territorial concessions."
According to foreign media on the 9th (local time), President Zelensky told reporters late the previous night, "Russia is demanding that we give up territory," adding, "We clearly do not want to give up anything. Under our (Ukraine) law, under international law, or under moral law, we have no right to give up anything."
Zelensky has repeatedly said it is impossible to give up territory, citing the Ukraine Constitution. Russia, however, has taken the position that the entire Donbas region in eastern Ukraine must be recognized as Russian territory, and this is said to be included in a cease-fire plan mediated by the U.S. administration of Donald Trump.
U.S. and Ukraine delegations have not disclosed the details of the proposal after discussing a cease-fire for three days from the 4th to the 6th. However, according to the U.S. political outlet Axios, provisions related to territory and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant have become tougher in the latest U.S. proposal, while questions about security guarantees remain unanswered.
President Trump is pressuring President Zelensky to accept the U.S.-mediated proposal. He emphasized, "Russia has the upper hand in the negotiations," and claimed that regarding the latest U.S. cease-fire plan, "His (Zelensky's) aides, his top people liked it."
In addition, Trump has repeatedly said that Russia holds an advantageous position in the negotiations, saying, "Russia has taken a lot of land," "Russia has the upper hand," and "Russia is in a stronger position."
Meanwhile, Zelensky wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that "the components (for a cease-fire) for Ukraine and Europe have further developed" and that "we are ready to present them to the U.S." He added, "In the near future, we will send a refined document to the United States."
The previous day, Zelensky met with the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany in London, then went to Brussels, Belgium, to meet Mark Rutte, NATO secretary-general, and Ursula von der Leyen, European Union (EU) commission president. He then traveled to Rome, Italy, for meetings with Pope Leo XIV and Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Most European countries say Ukraine must not be forced to make territorial concessions.