In brief

Volodymyr Zelensky told Axios in an interview that the Ukrainian people will reject a peace agreement that envisages a unilateral withdrawal by Kyiv from Donbas and handing it over to Russia. This position was voiced against the backdrop of tripartite contacts in Geneva involving representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the United States.

What is happening in Geneva

According to the president, during consultations he was informed of the positions of American intermediaries — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — who asserted that Russia was allegedly interested in ending the war and advised coordinating steps with the delegation. At the same time, the American proposal discussed in Geneva envisaged withdrawing Ukrainian forces from part of Donbas and creating a demilitarized "free economic zone" there.

"The Ukrainian people will reject a peace agreement that envisages a unilateral withdrawal by Kyiv from Donbas and handing it over to Russia."

— Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine (interview with Axios)

Key differences

Kyiv's position is simple and principled: withdrawal of troops can be discussed only with mutual guarantees — above all, the symmetrical pullback of Russian forces. Kyiv rejects the idea that the zone could automatically become a basis for recognizing Russia's sovereignty over the territory; Washington did not express a clear position on the question of sovereignty in the discussions presented.

"I am ready to discuss the withdrawal of our troops, but Moscow needs to pull its forces back by the same distance — and there must be no claims of sovereignty over this zone."

— Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine (interview with Axios)

Why this matters for Ukrainians

First, this is about sovereignty and territorial integrity — fundamental security questions. Second, any unilateral decision could create a precedent for further territorial concessions under pressure. Third, internal legitimacy — Ukrainian society must accept decisions about peace, and the president is directly appealing to that trust.

Analysts at international centers note that negotiations about demilitarized regimes without a clear answer on sovereignty risk freezing the conflict on terms unacceptable to Ukraine and creating long-term risks without security guarantees.

What's next?

The president believes a breakthrough on the territorial issue is possible only after a personal meeting of leaders — in particular between him and Vladimir Putin — and has instructed the delegation to raise this issue in Geneva. The question now is whether international partners will agree to provide the control mechanisms and guarantees that would make any steps safe for Ukraine.

This stance frames the contours of further negotiations: without clear guarantees and reciprocity, no territorial compromises will gain support inside the country. While diplomats work behind the scenes, what is at stake for every Ukrainian is not just peace in the abstract, but concrete security guarantees and the legal status of territories.

"Do not ask me to sell a vision of peace that my people would perceive as a 'failed story.'"

— Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine (interview with Axios)

Question for partners: are the United States and other allies ready to turn diplomatic signals into concrete guarantees that would make any changes safe for Ukraine and acceptable to its citizens?