The Americans insist that Ukraine cede all of the Donbas territory to Russia, a high-ranking European official told the online publication Politico. Zelensky speaks of the impossibility of territorial concessions, writes DW.
Peace negotiations regarding Ukraine have stalled over one issue: how to force Kyiv to fully cede the Donbas territory to the Kremlin. This was reported on Monday, December 8, by the online publication Politico, citing a high-ranking European official who wished to remain anonymous.
"On the issue of territory, the American position is simple: Russia demands that Ukraine cede territories - and the Americans continue to ponder how to achieve this," the publication quotes its source. "The Americans insist that Ukraine must leave Donbas... one way or another."
For its part, Kyiv insists that any peace deal must include a freeze on hostilities along the current front line, the publication reminds.
Zelensky Against Territorial Concessions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking to journalists on December 8, stated that "Ukraine has neither the legal nor the moral right to give up its territories in favor of Russia." Russia, on the other hand, "certainly insists" that Ukrainians hand over the territories, the Ukrainian leader's words were reported by the agency "Ukrinform" on its website.
Meanwhile, the United States is "working on finding a compromise that will satisfy both sides," Zelensky pointed out.
Which Territory of Ukraine is Controlled by Russia
According to Reuters, as of today, Russia controls 19.2% of Ukraine's territory, including the annexed Crimea, the entire Luhansk region, over 80% of the Donetsk region, about 75% of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as parts of the Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
U.S. President Donald Trump, on December 7, responding to reporters' questions during the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, stated that he was "a little disappointed" that Volodymyr Zelensky had "not yet read" the latest U.S. peace proposal by that time. At the same time, the American leader noted that he believed Russia would agree to this proposal, although Moscow "would prefer to take the whole country."
Commenting on the situation at the negotiations in a conversation with Politico, a high-ranking European official emphasized that it is now "important how the U.S. will behave - as a mediator or as someone leaning towards Russia." He also reminded that Kyiv is still waiting for clarification on what security guarantees Washington is ready to provide.
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