Zelenskyy: 87% of Ukrainians want peace, but not at cost of Donbas

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday said that Ukrainians are exhausted by the war but seek a just peace rather than one achieved through territorial concessions.

In an interview with Fox News, Zelenskyy stated that according to polling data, 87 percent of Ukrainian citizens support peace, while at the same time 85 percent oppose the withdrawal of Ukrainian Armed Forces from Donbas.

“People want peace. Today, [US] President [Donald] Trump said he had seen polling data showing that 85 percent or even 87 percent want peace and that is true. This is our life. At the same time, 85 percent oppose leaving Donbas. This means everyone wants peace, but a just peace,” Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian President stressed that abandoning Donbas would be the “worst-case scenario” for Ukraine and unacceptable for Ukrainian society.

“This is a major risk for Ukraine. It is unacceptable for Ukrainians. A referendum would not have a positive outcome,” Zelenskyy added.