Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared in Brussels on Sunday, August 17, that any negotiations with Moscow must begin from the current front lines and involve only the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. He stressed that Ukraine’s constitution makes any cession or trade of territory “impossible.”
Speaking alongside Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Zelensky said: “We need real negotiations, which means talks can only start from where today’s frontline stands. That is the best line for negotiation. Russia has still failed in Donetsk, and for 12 years, Putin has been unable to capture it. According to Ukraine’s constitution, no cession or bargaining over territory is possible.”
The Ukrainian president dismissed Vladimir Putin’s recent suggestion of a “territorial swap,” stating: “The issue of land is so vital that it can only be discussed between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia, within a trilateral framework of Ukraine–United States–Russia. So far, there has been no sign of Russia’s willingness to join such a meeting. If Moscow refuses, new sanctions against Russia must be imposed.”
His remarks come amid intensified fighting in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have escalated assaults in Donetsk and Kharkiv, while Ukrainian troops—backed by Western weaponry—struggle to hold their defensive lines.
Meanwhile, the recent Alaska summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin added new complexity. Despite Trump’s red-carpet welcome for Putin and his remarks about a “great breakthrough,” the meeting ended without a concrete agreement. Analysts say it served more as a stage for Putin’s return to global prominence than a genuine step toward peace in Ukraine.
