Zelensky Rejects Trump Land Swap Proposal for Ukraine Territories

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly rejected US President Donald Trump's proposal for a peace deal involving a territorial swap between Ukraine and Russia, emphasizing Ukraine's commitment to its full territorial integrity. Zelenskyy condemned the idea of conceding any land to Russia, stating that Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier and that the answer to Ukraine's territorial issue is enshrined in its Constitution. He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of seeking to legalize the occupation of Ukrainian land under the guise of a pause in the war. Trump, who plans to meet Putin soon, suggested that some swapping of territories could benefit both sides and help end the conflict, but Zelenskyy called such solutions 'dead solutions' that would never work if they exclude Ukraine's consent. The situation remains tense following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and four other territories in 2022, with ongoing military control and disputes over these regions. Zelenskyy has expressed readiness for real peace solutions through direct leader-level talks, while Moscow demands full Ukrainian troop withdrawal from claimed territories.