Zelensky Refuses to Cede Land as Trump Pushes for Peace Deal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is refusing to concede an inch of territory, digging in his heels even as President Donald Trump continues to push a 28-point peace proposal that would end the devastating war and bring stability back to Eastern Europe.

Following meetings with European leaders, Zelensky declared on Monday that Ukraine would not give up land, including territory already controlled by Russia, calling such a move “morally” and “legally” unacceptable.

“Under our laws, under international law and under moral law we have no right to give anything away,” Zelensky told reporters.

But back in Washington, President Trump is making it clear that Zelensky’s hardline stance may not be realistic, especially as Russia continues to dominate strategically on the battlefield.

In an interview with POLITICO, Trump said “Russia has the upper hand” and suggested that Zelensky needs to “get on the ball and start accepting things.”

“They’re much bigger. They’re much stronger in that sense. I give the people of Ukraine and the military of Ukraine tremendous credit… But at some point, size will win, generally.”

Trump’s plan crafted after months of backchannel diplomacy and meetings with both Russian and Ukrainian envoys reportedly includes:

• Territorial concessions in contested regions such as the Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

• U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent future invasions.

• Immediate cessation of hostilities and a path to rebuilding Ukraine’s economy with Western backing.

While Russia’s foreign policy team has asked for “radical changes” to the deal before formally agreeing, Trump’s team, led by U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg, maintains that the two sides are “really, really close” to a deal a claim now complicated by Zelensky’s recent defiance.

It’s not the first time Trump has criticized Zelensky’s reluctance to engage in serious peace talks. Over the weekend, Trump said he was “disappointed” to learn that the Ukrainian president hadn’t even read the full proposal.

“His people love it, but he has it. Russia is fine with it … but I’m not sure Zelensky is fine with it,” Trump said.

Adding to the pressure, Trump questioned why Zelensky has not held a national election, with Ukraine suspending normal democratic processes since the war began in 2022.

“They talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore,” Trump said. “I think it’s an important time to hold an election. Maybe Zelensky would win. I don’t know. But the people deserve a choice.”

While the D.C. foreign policy establishment and pro-war voices in the media continue to rally behind Zelensky’s no-compromise stance, the reality on the ground is shifting. Russia controls most of the Donbas, its grip on key infrastructure has only tightened, and the U.S. taxpayer has already sent over $175 billion to Ukraine since the conflict began.

Yet Zelensky insists on pushing a maximalist agenda that risks prolonging the war indefinitely, even as his own military is depleted and his country’s future hangs in the balance.

Trump, on the other hand, continues to offer what the Biden administration never could a serious, enforceable path to peace. It’s not perfect. But it’s real. And if Zelensky keeps refusing to read the writing on the wall, he may drag his country further into a war it cannot win.

Share this with someone who’s ready for the war in Ukraine to end and for American leadership that prioritizes peace through strength.

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