 "'Not an inch': Ukraine shuts down Russia's push to surrender territory")
Ukraine has reaffirmed that it will not surrender any territory to Russia, drawing a hard line even as Moscow signals conditional interest in a new US-backed peace plan.
Speaking on Wednesday, senior Ukrainian official Andriy Yermak insisted that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would never approve a deal that hands land to Russia under pressure.
“Not a single sane person today would sign a document to give up territory,” Yermak told The Atlantic, solidifying Kyiv’s stance that borders must remain intact. “As long as President Zelenskyy is in office, Ukraine will never agree to surrender territory,” he added.
The comments came in response to fresh demands from Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who reiterated that Ukraine must withdraw its forces from occupied eastern regions before negotiations can move forward. During a visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin warned that Moscow would “continue military action” if Kyiv refused to pull back.
“Ukraine must leave those territories. Without that, no ceasefire is possible,” Putin declared, reiterating Russia’s maximalist terms.
Despite the tough rhetoric, the Kremlin has signalled tentative openness to the 28-point peace plan being shaped by the United States under President Donald Trump. Putin acknowledged that the proposal “could form the basis for talks,” but stressed that Russia’s territorial claims are not up for debate.
The US peace plan, though not made public in full, reportedly includes provisions for security guarantees for Ukraine, demilitarised zones, and international oversight mechanisms. Kyiv, however, has made clear that the plan must respect Ukrainian sovereignty.
Ukraine and the United States are now preparing for a new round of discussions on the peace formula. Officials in Kyiv say their priorities include long-term security arrangements, reconstruction commitments, and preventing any agreement that legitimises Russian occupation.
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View AllTensions around the peace process have grown in recent weeks, with Ukrainian officials privately expressing concern that Moscow may use negotiations to freeze the conflict on its own terms. Publicly, however, Kyiv maintains that its red lines remain firm.
“Russia wants us to negotiate from a position of weakness,” Yermak said. “But Ukraine will not trade land for an illusion of peace.”
As both sides harden their positions, analysts warn that the gulf between Russia’s territorial demands and Ukraine’s refusal to cede land could stall diplomatic efforts.
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