Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that US President Donald Trump is exerting undue pressure on Ukraine to make concessions in peace negotiations with Russia, warning that Ukrainians would never accept surrendering more territory. In an interview withAxios, Zelenskyy said it was “not fair" that Trump had repeatedly called on Ukraine, rather than Russia, to make compromises.
“I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision," Zelenskyy said, referring to Trump’s public statements urging Kyiv to move quickly toward a deal. Trump had earlier said Ukraine needed to negotiate “fast," as diplomatic efforts continued alongside talks involving Russian, Ukrainian and US officials in Geneva.
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Zelenskyy suggested it might be easier politically for Washington to pressure Kyiv than Moscow but stressed he would not easily give in.
“We respect each other," Zelenskyy said of his discussions with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump adviser Jared Kushner.
“I am not such a person" to fold under pressure, he added.
The Ukrainian leader said any proposal requiring Ukraine to give up additional territory in the eastern Donbas region would be firmly rejected by voters.
“Emotionally, people will never forgive this. Never. They will not forgive… me, they will not forgive (the United States)," Zelenskyy said.
He added that Ukrainians “can’t understand why" they would be asked to surrender land beyond areas already occupied by Russian forces.
“This is part of our country, all these citizens, the flag, the land," he said.
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
