President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Ukraine would not budge from its longstanding opposition to handing over land to Russia, adding that the United States was pushing Kyiv for a “compromise” on Moscow’s territorial demands.
As U.S.-backed peace talks have languished amid clashing views over how to end the war, the Ukrainian leader made clear that the issues of territory remained one of the biggest gulfs.
The Kremlin has insisted that Ukraine cede all of the eastern region known as the Donbas, including land that Moscow’s forces have been unable to capture through nearly four years of war. Mr. Zelensky said on Monday that Ukraine had no “legal” or “moral” right to relinquish any land.
“Of course, Russia insists that we give up territories,” Mr. Zelensky said. “We, of course, do not want to give anything away. That is exactly what we are fighting for.”
He added: “The Americans today are looking for a compromise. I’ll be frank.”
Mr. Zelensky made the comments in an online chat with journalists after meeting in London with leaders of Europe’s largest economies, who vowed to continue backing Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain hosted Mr. Zelensky at 10 Downing Street, along with President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, for a closed-door discussion.
In brief remarks before the meeting began, Mr. Zelensky said he was there to discuss “sensitive issues” and stressed that it was critical for Europeans and Americans to unite with Ukraine in defending the country against Russia and in negotiating an end to the conflict.
“There are some things we can’t manage without Americans; things which we can’t manage without Europe,” he said. “That’s why we need to make some important decisions.”
After the meeting ended, Mr. Macron’s office issued a statement saying the group had worked on the American peace proposals “with a view to supplementing it with European contributions, in close coordination with Ukraine.”
