Zelensky Warns Land Concessions Could Give Putin Time to Prepare Another Invasion
Ukraine has presented new peace proposals to US negotiators but has not disclosed their contents. Zelensky rejected surrendering the remaining Ukrainian-held areas of Donbas and warned that Putin could eventually target a smaller NATO state.
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that granting land concessions to Russia could provide Vladimir Putin with time to prepare for another potential invasion. The Ukrainian leader urged for increased American involvement in a peace plan, expressing gratitude to President Trump's team for their continued efforts.
Zelensky reiterated that Putin was not inclined to end the conflict and noted that the current pressure on him had proven insufficient. He rejected the idea of withdrawing Ukrainian forces from the contested Donbas region, as demanded by Putin.
For Ukraine, Zelensky emphasized that the primary concern in any peace agreement is not just the territory, but whether it would prevent Russia from rebuilding its forces and launching another offensive. He questioned the likelihood of Putin returning with a large army, estimating that he could potentially deploy one or two million troops after a period of inaction.
Credible security guarantees emerged as a crucial factor in any settlement, according to Zelensky. The Ukrainian president also acknowledged Western experts' concerns that Putin might eventually expand his aggression beyond Ukraine, possibly targeting a smaller NATO member, potentially in the Baltic region. Zelensky suggested that Putin might seek a smaller country where he believed Russia could achieve a quick victory, regardless of the target's NATO membership status.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
