Washington: In a statement, President Trump said Russia is willing to reach an agreement and stressed that the next move rests with Ukraine. “Russia wants to reach an agreement… and Zelensky will have to act, otherwise he will miss a great opportunity,” Trump stated, signaling renewed pressure from Washington for progress toward ending the conflict.

The remarks come amid ongoing tensions over the terms of any potential settlement, particularly regarding the future of eastern Ukraine. President Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out territorial concessions, maintaining that Ukraine will not surrender land as part of any peace deal.

Speaking at an event during the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky reaffirmed his rejection of Russian demands to hand over the eastern Donbas region as a condition for peace. He highlighted that approximately 200,000 Ukrainians live in areas of Donbas still under Kyiv’s control, emphasizing the human and national stakes involved.

Large parts of the resource-rich region have been under Moscow’s control since the start of the war in February 2022. Russia considers recognition of its hold over the territory a key condition for advancing peace talks.

The White House administration has, on multiple occasions, urged Kyiv to consider giving up Donbas in pursuit of a broader settlement. However, Ukrainian authorities continue to insist that relinquishing territory is out of the question, underscoring their commitment to preserving the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.