Zelensky Rules Out Land Swap With Russia, Says Lifting Sanctions Before Putin Talks Would Weaken Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has set out his position on possible peace talks with Russia, Western sanctions and Ukraine's territory. In a television interview, he said that lifting sanctions on Russia before sitting down for talks with Vladimir Putin would weaken Ukraine's position. He ruled out any exchange of Ukrainian territory and said issues linked to sovereignty could not be compromised.

Sanctions relief before talks would weaken Ukraine's hand

Zelensky opposed lifting sanctions on Russia ahead of a possible trilateral meeting involving the leaders of Russia, Ukraine and the United States. He said the sanctions were imposed in response to Russia's aggression, not to create a good atmosphere for talks. If they were lifted before the proposed meeting, he said, the diplomatic options available to Ukraine could weaken.

He referred to an earlier remark by US President Donald Trump that Ukraine had very few cards to play. Zelensky said he did not want Ukraine to go to the meeting with Putin without sanctions, money or frozen assets, because it would then have very few cards left.

Rules out land swap

Zelensky rejected any proposal to exchange territory. He said Russia could not dictate Ukraine's security guarantees, the limits on its army or the terms of its neutrality. He said Ukraine would not accept any agreement that involved trading its territory.

He said technical talks between the negotiating teams of the three countries must take place before any meeting of the leaders. However, he said sensitive issues such as territory could be decided only at meetings between top leaders. Such decisions could not be imposed on Ukrainians under any kind of pressure, he added.

Frustration over slow Patriot deliveries

Zelensky said there were three main obstacles in talks with the US side: a severe shortage of air defence systems, restrictions on the use of Starlink and Starshield, and restrictions on intelligence sharing. He said the Starlink and intelligence-sharing issues had been resolved for now.

The slow supply of Patriot air defence missiles, however, remains a concern. Zelensky said there was progress, but it was very slow. It was not enough to promise Patriot missiles and then not deliver them for a month or two, he said. Waiting like that in the middle of a war does not work, he added.

Wants concrete results from November talks

Zelensky has said he agrees to the trilateral talks planned for November. He said the process should not be a mere formality or a political ploy by Putin. If Putin has agreed only to avoid raising tensions with the United States before the US midterm elections, it will become clear in November, he said.

Ukraine wants the talks to deliver specific results. These are an energy ceasefire, a new arrangement to protect grain shipments in the Black Sea, and prisoner exchanges. Zelensky said Ukraine was offering these points to the American side, not demanding them.