At a critical moment in diplomatic efforts to end the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected any suggestion of trading land for peace and instead demanded stronger international pressure on Moscow.
Peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the US are expected in Geneva, with the Kremlin signalling that territorial control will be the “main issue.” Russia is pushing for Ukraine to relinquish the remainder of Donbas, a demand Kyiv firmly opposes.
Zelenskyy warned that conceding territory would allow President Vladimir Putin to regroup militarily, even as Russian forces continue to sustain heavy monthly losses. He argued that appeasement has historically failed to curb Russian expansion.
In a series of posts on X, the Ukrainian president Zelenskyy said it was a “big mistake” to ever reward the aggressor.
Pointing to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, and Vladimir Putin’s occupation of parts of Georgia and Chechnya, Zelenskyy said: “Many mistakes were made.
“That’s why now I don’t want to be the President who will repeat the mistakes made by my predecessors or other people.”
The president said: “I’m not just talking about Ukraine. I’m speaking about the leaders of different countries that allowed an aggressive country like Russia to come onto their territory.
“Because you can’t stop Putin with your kisses or flowers.
“I never did it and that’s why I don’t feel that it’s the right way.”
Zelenskyy said that even giving into that demand from Putin would enable him to rebuild his military at a time when he “is losing 30–35 thousand people per month now”.
Instead, he called for stricter sanctions on Russia and the expulsion of Russians from the US and Europe.
Despite mounting tensions, US President Donald Trump insists both sides are eager to finalise an agreement.
This is a big mistake to allow the aggressor to take something. It was a big mistake at the very beginning, starting with 2014. And even before that, during the attack and occupation of parts of Georgia. And even before that, when Chechnya was occupied, with total destruction and…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 16, 2026