Zelenskyy called the US belief that concessions on Donbas would stop the war «short-sighted»
- News of Ukraine
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- Mariia Khamitsevych
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8:35, 24 February, 2026
Zelensky called on the US to increase pressure on Russia instead of making demands on Ukraine. Photo: Zelenskiy OfficialUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he considers the position of the United States, which allows for the possibility of ending the war if Ukraine agrees to cede the territories of Donbas not yet occupied by Russia, to be «short-sighted».
He said this in an interview with the Financial Times, as quoted by Ukrainska Pravda.
«Honestly, I don't believe that this is all that Russia wants. Our withdrawal from Donbas — and then the war will end. Russia is Russia, and you know that they cannot be trusted,» the head of state emphasised.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised the idea of a temporary ceasefire, stressing that without reliable Western security guarantees, such a pause would only give Russia the opportunity to regroup for a new offensive.
The president called Russian leader Vladimir Putin's accusation that Ukraine allegedly needs a truce to regroup «demagoguery and lies».
«We don't need a pause. We need an end to the war,» he stressed.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also noted that US President Donald Trump's pressure on Ukraine regarding territorial concessions is currently more noticeable than the pressure on Russia. He called on Washington to increase sanctions pressure and «hit the Kremlin's wallet» rather than forcing Ukraine to capitulate.
«It is costly for the Russians to stop their shadow fleet, their companies and opportunities to trade and export energy resources, as well as to block schemes to circumvent sanctions,» the president said.
At the same time, the head of state stressed that Ukraine relies primarily on its own army and the development of domestic arms production.
Earlier, in an interview with the BBC, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised that Western partners should focus on deterring Russia rather than attempting to establish relations with the Kremlin. In his opinion, the Russian leader has no intention of voluntarily ending the war.