Zelenskyy faces immense challenges if pressured to surrender Donbas, with strategic, moral, and national stakes.
As discussions continue for a direct meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the spotlight is back on the Donbas region. Russia has made it clear that Ukraine must surrender Donbas to reach any peace deal, but Zelenskyy is very unlikely to agree. Donbas, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, has been a conflict zone since 2014, after Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatist groups in eastern Ukraine. While Zelenskyy has previously suggested freezing the battlelines, Russia wants complete control, including areas still held by Ukrainian forces. For Zelenskyy, giving up Donbas would be a huge political, strategic, and moral setback, making it almost impossible to negotiate peace on Russia’s terms.
Most Ukrainians are firmly against surrendering Donbas. Polls by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology show that around 75% oppose formally giving any territory to Russia. People accept the reality of Russian control over certain areas, meaning frozen battlelines, but they do not want to formally recognize Russian ownership. The Ukrainian constitution also forbids giving away national land. Because of this, any formal surrender of Donbas—or any occupied region—is politically and legally off the table.
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Donbas is more than just a battlefield. It is an industrial and strategic hub. Ukrainian forces have strengthened its defenses since 2014. Surrendering it would mean losing key military positions and logistical advantages. It could also allow Russia to push further into Ukraine, threatening national security and lowering troop morale. Donbas is central to Ukraine’s defense, making it critical for the country’s military strategy.
Ukraine has rejected all land-for-peace offers. The loss of Crimea in 2014 is still a painful memory. Russia took advantage of Ukraine’s concessions and invaded mainland Ukraine in 2022. Experts warn that surrendering Donbas now could let Russia rebuild its military, gain strength, and try another invasion later. Giving up the region could encourage more attacks and weaken Ukraine’s international position.
Surrendering Donbas would be a big moral loss for Ukraine and Russia says it invaded in 2022 to ‘protect’ Russian speakers, and giving up the region would play into that story. Ukraine can’t accept this because it would go against the country’s sovereignty and the efforts and sacrifices of its people defending their land.
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Donbas is very important to Zelenskyy personally and historically. His grandfather, Semyon Zelenskyy, fought against the Nazis there during World War II. Three of his great-uncles also fought, and his great-grandparents were killed during the Holocaust. Zelenskyy has highlighted the sacrifices of many families in the region. Losing Donbas would be a national and personal shame, making surrender unacceptable.
