By Anushka Rajvedi
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, rejected the idea of land exchange as a condition for a ceasefire proposed by Russia.
In a press briefing on 12 August 2025 at Kyiv, Zelenskyy said that Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, has asked Ukraine to give up on the 9,000 square—kilometer land of Donetsk, which was still under the control of Kyiv. Ukraine was informed about this demand by the officials of the United States, ahead of the meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump, which is to be held on 15 August 2025 in Alaska.
Recalling the attack on Crimea by Russia in 2014 and the invasion in 2022, Zelenskyy informed the media that giving up Donbas will be an invitation to the third world war. He said that, “Surrendering Donbas to Russia is equivalent to providing them with a new offensive which eventually will lead to the emergence of the third world war.” He further stressed how Donbas as a territory is important for the national security of Ukraine.” A new bridge will open for Russia to prepare for a future offensive, if we give up the terrain and control the territory of Donbas.”
When asked about the odds of Putin demanding Donbas as a proposal for the ceasefire, Zelenskyy said that he is not sure if giving up the territory would guarantee ‘no future wars’. “ I have not heard of anything. It is not confirmed that this proposal would end the war and will not start a new war, or Russia will demand and occupy Kharkiv, Dinpro and Zaporizhzhia.”
While Ukraine holds an unclear ground on whether it will be attending the summit in Alaska, which will be held between Trump and Putin, ‘Russian troops have been moving closer to Pokrovsk, a city in Ukraine which will help Russia secure Donbas, an area Putin long wished to control’, says Zelenskyy.