Zelenskyy: Ukraine will not cede its territories to Putin, ‘for us this is life and history’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday reiterated that Ukraine would never give up its territories to Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that if Moscow tried to advance further, it would cost Russia millions of soldiers.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Zelenskyy stressed that for Ukrainians, the occupied lands are far more than geography.

“For some it may seem like just territory, but for us it is our life, our history, our constitution. These are homes, families, and countless aspects that are deeply sensitive for Ukraine. Those who lived there, and those who were forced to leave because of bombings and occupation, want to return. Perhaps it seems unrealistic now, but they will return”, he said.

The President dismissed the idea of exchanging territory for peace, arguing that no guarantees could be trusted from Putin, whom he described as repeatedly deceitful.

“If you do not trust this man, if he has already partially occupied you, if you understand every aspect of a full-scale war - then even if you agree to this crazy idea, who can guarantee Putin will stop? No one can”, Zelenskyy stated.

He underlined that Russia had already lost over 100,000 soldiers on key fronts and failed to take more than 30 percent of Donbas in four years.

“If the Russian dictator goes further, it will take him years, and not only years but millions of Russian soldiers lost. That is why we will not give him such a gift”, Zelenskyy said.