Zelensky rejects ceding land to Russia, unveils 3-track plan

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reaffirmed that the country would not be open to ceding any land to Russia, even as United States President Donald Trump is pushing for a reply to the Ukraine peace proposal. Zelensky on Tuesday said,Ukraine and its partners are working on three documents that form the basis of current diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war. Zelensky told reporters that the main framework plan now includes 20 points, after negotiators removed some from the original 28-point U.S.–Russian draft.

The president described the revised version as "a framework that keeps evolving" and must reflect "the interests of Ukraine, Europe, and the world." The second document focuses on security guarantees, which Kyiv is preparing with both Washington and European partners, Zelensky said.The third document addresses Ukraine's reconstruction, which Zelensky described as essential to planning for the country's future even as the war continues.

Zelensky acknowledged that the U.S. "is not yet ready to see Ukraine in NATO," calling it "open information," and noted that Kyiv's current priority is building effective guarantees from Europe's Coalition of the Willing and, critically, from the U.S. Zelensky stressed that he would not be relenting to any territorial losses, while saying, “Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories. We, clearly, don't want to give up anything.” The Ukrainian President further said, “That's what we are fighting for.”  “Do we consider ceding any territories? According to the law we don't have such right,” he said. Zelensky said that Ukraine's law, its constitution, and international law does not permit any concessions. “…And to be frank, we don't have a moral right either,” the Ukrainian President said.

Zelensky is in Europe to hold talks with several leaders. The Ukrainian President met with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome and discussed the progress of the peace process, a statement by the latter's office said. The leaders discussed “developing robust security guarantees to prevent future aggression and maintaining pressure on Russia to join the negotiating table in good faith”, according to the statement.