President Volodymyr Zelensky has reaffirmed that Ukraine will not accept any scenario in which Donbas is recognized as Russian territory, either in law or in practice. Speaking during a briefing with Ukrainian media, he said Moscow’s position remains unchanged and continues to focus on gaining control over the region, something Kyiv categorically rejects.

According to Zelensky, Ukraine’s stance is “practical, realistic and fair.” He stressed that while the territorial issue is being discussed, Kyiv has no intention of relinquishing Donbas. He noted that U.S. partners are exploring compromise options, including the idea of a free economic zone, but clarified that such a concept does not imply Russian sovereignty over the territory.

Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine will not recognize the temporarily occupied parts of Donbas as Russian under any circumstances. At the same time, he acknowledged that the issue of territory remains one of the most sensitive and unresolved topics in the negotiations, with no full consensus reached so far.

His comments followed reports that U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had urged Ukrainian representatives during talks in Berlin on December 14 to consider concessions related to Donbas. Ukrainian officials, however, made clear that any arrangement placing the region under Russian control is unacceptable.

After two days of discussions in Berlin between a Ukrainian delegation led by Zelensky and U.S. envoys, Ukraine’s top security official and negotiator Rustem Umerov said that “real progress” toward peace had been achieved. Nevertheless, he and other officials acknowledged that a final agreement on territorial questions remains out of reach.

Zelensky later described the talks as difficult but productive. He pointed out a difference in priorities between Kyiv and Washington, saying the United States is seeking a rapid end to the war, while Ukraine is focused on the substance and durability of any agreement. He added that speed is welcome only if it does not come at the expense of quality and security.

Standing alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the German Ukrainian Economic Forum, Zelensky reiterated that no version of Donbas under Russian control would be acceptable. U.S. officials were quoted as saying that most issues had been resolved, and U.S. President Donald Trump was reportedly satisfied with the progress made in Berlin. According to media reports, discussions centered on security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5, while questions of territory and sovereignty still require further work.

An unnamed source cited by AFP said that no agreement had been reached on territorial matters, as Washington continues to press Kyiv to cede the entire Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Ukraine’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya cautioned against misrepresenting the U.S. position, stressing that Washington remains actively engaged in the peace process and that anonymous claims do not reflect the reality of the talks.