Zelenskyy: Territorial issue should be discussed ‘only’ at trilateral meeting

The issue of a territorial swap, demanded by Russian President Vladimir Putin, should be discussed only between Ukraine and Russia at a trilateral meeting with the United States, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

Speaking today at a press conference with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, Zelenskyy reiterated that the Ukrainian constitution makes it impossible to cede any territory. "We need real negotiations, which means they can start where the front line is now [...] Russia is still unsuccessful in the Donetsk region. Putin has been unable to take it for twelve years,” the Ukrainian leader said.

However, he added that since the territorial issue is so important, “it should be discussed only by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia at the trilateral meeting bet