“We Will Give Nothing”: Zelensky Rejects Any Territorial Concessions After Trump Summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a defiant and unequivocal rejection of any peace deal that involves ceding territory to Russia, declaring “We will give nothing” in response to suggestions that Kyiv should accept a compromise to end the war immediately. The stark statement, made following his high-stakes summit at the White House on Friday, represents a direct pushback against the U.S. President’s surprising call for both sides to simply “stop the killing” and “declare victory.”
The White House meeting, which Zelensky had hoped would secure a new tranche of advanced weaponry, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, instead turned into a high-pressure session where the U.S. President urged him to pursue an immediate negotiated settlement. President Trump revealed he had told both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop the fighting” and suggested a resolution where “both declare victory, and let history judge.”
This approach implicitly requires Ukraine to abandon its fundamental war aim: the liberation of all its sovereign territory currently occupied by Russia, including Crimea and parts of the Donbas seized since 2014.
In comments made after returning from Washington, Zelensky left no doubt about Kyiv’s position on such a compromise. While describing the talks with the U.S. President as “constructive,” he emphasized the non-negotiable nature of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. “I believe President Trump understands that the most difficult issue in any talks will be the issue of territory,” Zelensky stated, acknowledging the gap between the U.S. desire for an immediate end to the conflict and Ukraine’s determination to fight on.
His subsequent declaration, “We will give nothing to Russia,” serves as a clear and forceful message to both Moscow and Washington: Ukraine will not trade land for peace. This stance reflects the overwhelming sentiment within Ukrainian society, which remains committed to restoring the country’s pre-invasion borders.
Zelensky’s focus remains squarely on acquiring the military means to achieve that goal. He confirmed that he used the White House meeting to reiterate Ukraine’s urgent need for more advanced air defense systems and specifically asked for the long-range Tomahawk missiles, even as his American counterpart was pushing for de-escalation.
The summit has thus exposed a significant divergence between the strategic objectives of Kyiv and its most crucial ally. While the U.S. seeks a swift end to a costly conflict, possibly by freezing the current lines, Ukraine remains resolute in its fight for full liberation. Zelensky’s defiant statement makes it clear that despite facing immense pressure, Kyiv is not prepared to accept a peace that rewards Russian aggression with Ukrainian land.