---
title: "If We Give Up Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, RF Will Go Further - Zelenskyy"
description: "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that surrendering Slovyansk and Kramatorsk would open Russia's path to the Dnipropetrovsk region. He emphasized that freezing the conflict along the current frontline is Ukraine's biggest compromise."
date: 2026-10-22T08:50:39.562Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-slavyansk-kramatorsk-rf-war
tags: [zelenskyy, ukraine-russia-war, donetsk-region, security-guarantees, frontline]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# If We Give Up Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, RF Will Go Further - Zelenskyy

![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a podcast interview](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/22/zelenskiy-slavyansk-kramatorsk-rf-voyna/zelenskiy-slavyansk-kramatorsk-rf-voyna-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The loss of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk will threaten the Dnipropetrovsk region
- These cities form a key industrial and machine-building center for Ukraine
- Ukraine's biggest compromise is a ceasefire along the current frontline
- Russian troops control approximately 18-19% of Ukraine's territory

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in a podcast for The Diary Of A CEO that the loss of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region would lead to the further advance of Russian troops deeper into the country, specifically into the Dnipropetrovsk region. According to him, these cities and surrounding areas represent a vital industrial and machine-building center upon which Ukraine's economy depends, and a heavily fortified defense line has been built there.

### Threat to Industrial Regions and the Economic Factor

The head of the Ukrainian state emphasized that Russian forces strive to capture eastern Ukraine, and Slovyansk and Kramatorsk provide a direct path to Pavlohrad and Dnipro. The loss of these settlements would create immense risks for the entire country as the adversary could continue its offensive and capture numerous other cities. The president noted that under current conditions no one can provide one hundred percent security guarantees, and demands for a further withdrawal of Ukrainian troops are unfair.

### Situation on the Southern Front and Shelling of Kherson

Addressing the situation in the southern directions, Zelenskyy pointed out the specifics of the standoff in the Kherson area, where the Dnipro River separates the positions of the parties. Ukrainian forces are on one bank while Russian troops are on the other, allowing the enemy to regularly shell urban infrastructure. Furthermore, according to his assessment, Russian forces currently control about 18-19 percent of Ukraine's territory.

### Position on Compromises and Freezing the Conflict

Speaking about possible settlement paths, the Ukrainian leader recalled US President Donald Trump's calls to seek compromise solutions to end the hostilities. In Zelenskyy's view, Ukraine's biggest compromise is already its agreement to a ceasefire and freezing the conflict along the current frontline. Earlier, on October 21, he stated that such a step could become a real path to ending the war, after which Kyiv would seek reliable security guarantees from Washington and European partners.

### Significance and Further Prospects for Settlement

The statements of the Ukrainian leadership reflect Kyiv's firm stance regarding territorial concessions and the strategic defense of eastern borders. The issue of maintaining control over Donbas industrial agglomerations and obtaining international security guarantees remains a key factor in any future discussions on a diplomatic settlement. Meanwhile, the military situation on the ground remains tense: according to Ukrainian military data on October 22, preparations by the adversary for active mechanized actions are recorded in the southern direction.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Если мы отдадим Славянск и Краматорск, РФ пойдет дальше, - Зеленский](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/kshcho-mi-viddamo-slov-yansk-i-kramatorsk-1792658737.html) - The primary source RBC-Ukraine confirms all quotes and statements made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy in The Diary Of A CEO podcast.

## FAQ

### Why is the loss of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk dangerous for Ukraine?

These cities are located in a key industrial and machine-building center, and surrendering them would open Russia's path to the Dnipropetrovsk region.

### What main compromise does Ukraine offer to end the war?

The Ukrainian president considers a ceasefire and holding positions along the current frontline to be the biggest compromise.

### What percentage of Ukraine's territory do Russian troops currently control?

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy's assessment, about 18-19% of Ukraine's territory is under Russian control.