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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has raised concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump is placing excessive pressure on Ukraine to make concessions in ongoing peace negotiations aimed at ending the nearly four-year war with Russia. In an interview with U.S. outlet Axios, Zelenskiy said it was “not fair” for Trump to publicly urge Ukraine—rather than Moscow—to compromise as diplomatic talks continue in Geneva involving Russian, Ukrainian, and American negotiators.
The Ukraine-Russia war, which has centered heavily on eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, remains at a critical stage. Russia currently controls approximately 88% of Donbas, and Moscow has demanded full control of the territory as part of any peace agreement. Zelenskiy made clear that any proposal requiring Ukraine to surrender land not already occupied by Russian forces would be rejected by Ukrainian voters in a national referendum.
According to Zelenskiy, Ukrainians would never forgive such concessions. He emphasized that Donbas is sovereign Ukrainian territory, including its citizens, land, and national flag. “Emotionally, people will never forgive this,” he said, adding that both Ukrainian leadership and international partners could face backlash if additional territory were given up.
Trump recently stated that Ukraine must “come to the table fast” to ensure the success of peace talks. However, Zelenskiy suggested it may be easier politically to pressure Kyiv than Moscow. Despite his criticism, he thanked Trump for supporting peacemaking efforts and noted that discussions with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were respectful and did not involve the same level of pressure.
Zelenskiy reiterated his proposal to freeze the conflict along the current front lines, arguing that a ceasefire based on existing positions could gain public approval in a referendum. As diplomatic efforts continue, the outcome of the Ukraine peace talks will likely shape the future of European security and U.S.-Ukraine relations.
