Zelensky does not give up Donbas, Putin's future offensive fears

Zelensky does not give up Donbas, Putin's future offensive fears

The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj emphasized on Tuesday that he does not think of giving eastern Ukrainian areas to Russia. He warned that a task of the Donbass region could open the door for the Russian President Vladimir Putin to start "a third war" in Ukraine.

Putin's meeting with Donald Trump and the geopolitical tensions

Selenskyj's warning takes place in the run-up to Putin's meeting with US President Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday. It is expected that the Russian president will request the annexation of Ukrainian areas as part of a peace agreement.

Russian demands and the future of the Donbass

On Putin's reported conditions for an armistice, there are different views. Most reports, however, emphasize that Putin demands from the Ukrainian armed forces to withdraw from all parts of the Donbass, including the parts of the Donetsk region that still control Russia.

"For the Russians, the Donbass is a springboard for a future offensive. If we give up the Donbass on our own drive or under pressure, we start a third war," said Selenskyj in a conversation with journalists. Russia had annexed the Crimea in 2014 violating the international law and launched a comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

risk of a new offensive and security guarantees

"" I didn't even hear a single offer that would guarantee that no new war will begin tomorrow and that Putin will not try to fill at least Dnipro, Saporischschja and Charkiw, "added Selenskyj. He emphasized the need for security guarantees and that "the exchange of territories is a very complex matter", which in turn is closely linked to the security of Ukraine.

Selenskyj also mentioned that the commitment of the European Union in the peace negotiations was crucial, since "nobody gives us security guarantees apart from Europe". A conversation between the United States, Ukraine and "all of Europe" is to take place on Wednesday.

Trump's plans and diplomatic conversations

Trump indicated that Selenskyj will not take part in the summit on Friday. After the meeting, however, the US President plans to contact Kiev immediately to inform the European leaders.

"My goal is to bring Putin and Selenskyj to the same table to clarify their differences," said Trump. He suspected that only the two states of states can find a way to end the war with a certain "territory exchange".

Selenskyj also gave further insights into the diplomatic conversations that take place behind the scenes on Tuesday, as well as his assessment of the meeting of the US sender Steve Witkoff with Putin. "Witkoff said that there should be territorial step back on both sides. It sounded. And that Putin probably wants us to leave Donbass. So it didn't sound as if we wanted to give up America," said Selenskyj.

"I don't think Putin's proposal is Trump's proposal. I think Trump represents the United States of America. He acts as an intermediary that he is in the middle - not on the Russia side," he added.

This article is based on information from CNN and was also made up by Kevin Liptak.