Zelensky on Donbas: The least problematic solution is to stay where we are

The issue of territories, particularly control over the Donetsk region, remains a very problematic one in negotiations with Russia. A compromise could be a "stand where we are" agreement, the President said Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a conversation with media representatives on January 29, a LIGA.net correspondent reports.

He noted that a compromise is something that both sides must agree to, not just the Ukrainian side under pressure from the Russian side. But he emphasized that it is not fair to seek a compromise between the victim and the aggressor.

The parties are currently unable to find a compromise on the territorial issue, namely, a part of eastern Ukraine. We are talking about the Donetsk region.

"We believe that tough demands on Ukraine are definitely not a compromise. This is a change in territorial integrity. And this is the format that the Russian side has publicly signaled. We have repeatedly said that we are ready for compromises that lead to a real end to the war, but which are definitely not related to a change in territorial integrity," Zelensky emphasized.

According to him, the US understands this and offers a free economic zone in Donetsk region as a compromise solution. However, the issue of control over it must also be fair, the President noted. Ukraine must retain control over the territories it currently controls.

The negotiating team emphasized this vision at the trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi. But the parties had no mandate to make decisions, because, according to Zelenskyy, such "complex issues" should be resolved at the level of leaders.

"In my opinion, the least problematic solution that can be found is 'staying where we are'. This is our view. There were some sketches in the discussion of what a free economic zone is. No one made a decision... We agreed that the parties will return to these issues at the next meeting, and we will have feedback from the Russian Federation," the President said.

The issue of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is also on the list of territorial issues. They are key, Zelensky emphasized.

• In December, President questioned the US compromise on Donbas as a "free economic zone".
• In January 2026, EU representative Kaja Kallas stated that ukraine's concessions are possible only with real security guarantees.