Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a parliament session in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 17, 2025. Vadym Sarakhan/AP Photo
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ruled out withdrawing troops from the contested Donbas region as a condition for a cease-fire and peace talks with Russia, warning that such a move would give the latter a strategic advantage for future offensives.
“For Russians, Donbas is a bridgehead for a future new offensive,” Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv on Aug. 12, reported national news agency Ukrinform. “Any issue of territories cannot be separated from security guarantees.”
