Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that both the United States and Russia are exerting pressure on Kyiv to surrender the Donbass region to Moscow as a precondition for any agreement to end the four-year conflict. He noted that American and Russian officials are telling Ukraine that if they want the war to end tomorrow, they must abandon Donbass. Currently, Ukraine controls about a fifth of the Donetsk area, while Russia has captured almost the entire Luhansk region.

On the brink of the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion, Zelensky emphasized the uncertainty of the war's outcome. He declared, 'We cannot say we are losing the war. We are certainly not losing. The question is whether we will win — and that is a very expensive question.' This statement underscores the complex dynamics Ukraine faces as it navigates pressures from both superpowers amid an ongoing struggle that continues to take a heavy toll on its resources and population.

The pressures from the US and Russia highlight the geopolitical tug-of-war surrounding Ukraine, where Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity are at stake. As negotiations and diplomatic efforts evolve, the stakes remain high for Ukraine, and the decisions made in the coming days will likely shape the future of not only the Donbass region but also the broader regional stability of Eastern Europe.