Zelensky Says What Deal Ukraine Will Not Make With Russia

• 17.02.2026, 22:39

The President of Ukraine gave a categorical answer.

The Ukrainian people will not agree to a peace deal with Russia, under which the aggressor would gain control over the entire Donbass.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said this in an interview with Axios.

According to Zelensky, Kiev and Washington have agreed that any deal must be put to a referendum in Ukraine.

The president believes that if the deal involves a simple withdrawal of Ukrainian soldiers from the Donetsk region, it will not pass a referendum.

"Emotionally, people will never forgive this. Never. They will not forgive... me, they will not forgive (the US - ed.)," Zelensky noted, specifying that Ukrainians "cannot understand" why they are required to make additional territorial concessions.

But the head of state added that if the deal fixes the current front line in Donbass, Ukrainians will accept it.

"I think that if we spell out in the document... that we remain where we remain on the line of contact, I think people will support it in the referendum. This is my opinion," the president noted.