Zelenskyy says US voiced Russia’s demands, not pressure on Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that the United States did not demand concessions from Kyiv during recent talks, but merely conveyed Russia’s position on ending the war.

Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Zelenskyy said Washington had presented Moscow’s demands rather than imposing its own.

“I do not consider that the United States demanded anything from us. I see the United States as our strategic partner. Therefore, I would put it this way: the issue of territories, the Russian vision or Russian demands — we heard these from the United States. We perceive them as demands of the Russian Federation”, he said.

Zelenskyy added that he could not demand anything from the American side, noting that Ukraine had instead communicated its own position so it could be relayed to Russia.

He said Ukraine and the United States are in contact on sensitive issues and that while Washington listens to Russia’s perspective and objectives, it is important that the US also hears Ukraine’s position.

His comments come after AFP, citing a source, reported that the United States had pressured Ukraine during negotiations to cede part of the Donbas region it controls.

Kyiv has repeatedly rejected any territorial concessions to Russia. Zelenskyy stressed that surrendering territory is prohibited under Ukraine’s constitution and international law.

Russia has been demanding since the summer that Ukraine withdraw its troops from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Moscow’s demands are outlined in a “memorandum” handed to the Ukrainian side during talks held in Istanbul.