President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, at a press conference in Dublin, stated that Kyiv is not prepared to accept an agreement involving the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas and does not intend to trust the positions put forward by Vladimir Putin. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing direct statements by the head of state. Appearing on the international stage in the Irish capital, Zelensky publicly outlined Kyiv's red lines in the negotiation process and explained why he believes external pressure is concentrated specifically on the Ukrainian side.
Why pressure is applied to Kyiv rather than Moscow
Zelensky articulated the logic used by proponents of a peace deal: "It is a simple way to talk to the Russians: press us to leave Donbas, and there will be an agreement." The President emphasized that Ukraine is not prepared for such a settlement format and is not ready to trust Putin. Consequently, Kyiv effectively rejects a scenario where territorial concessions from Ukraine become the sole condition for ending hostilities.
Hopes for an alternative approach from Washington and Brussels
Acknowledging that "it is easier to pressure us," Zelensky expressed hope that the United States, together with European partners, will find another way to end the war. "I hope that the US will find another path with Europe. We are counting on it," the President declared. This statement highlights Kyiv's position that diplomatic pressure should be distributed between both parties to the conflict rather than focused exclusively on the Ukrainian delegation.
Statements by the Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi
A separate part of Zelensky's speech was dedicated to negotiations in Abu Dhabi, where, according to him, the Russian side attempted to bolster its demands regarding Donbas with claims about success on the front line. The President reported that representatives of Russian military and intelligence structures claimed that Russia had occupied half of the Donbas territory controlled by Ukraine. Zelensky described these claims as disconnected from reality, noting that "Putin lives in another reality."
The Dobropillia precedent and GUR refutations
The President cited previous reports from the Russian command regarding the seizure of Dobropillia as an example of similar false claims. According to him, these assertions were refuted by the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, who publicly confirmed that the Russian side does not control this settlement. In Zelensky's assessment, this episode demonstrates the systemic nature of exaggerated claims used by the Russian delegation as a bargaining chip in the negotiation process.
Context: the negotiation track and parties' positions
The speech in Dublin takes place against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to involve Ukraine in formal negotiations mediated by third countries. Kyiv's position, as formulated by Zelensky, remains unchanged: any agreement that implies Russian control over Donbas territories without security guarantees and without pressure on the Russian side cannot be accepted. At the same time, the Ukrainian side does not rule out dialogue, but insists that the terms of the settlement must be symmetrical and based on the factual situation on the ground, rather than on claims that the President says are not supported by reality.
