In a recent interview with BBC, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky articulated his firm stance against withdrawing Ukraine from the Donbas region, especially the 20% of territory in the Donetsk area. He expressed that the land is inseparable from the identity of the Ukrainian people, referring to the potential abandonment of these territories as an act of betrayal. Zelensky underscored that conceding such significant land would weaken the nation's position and abandon hundreds of thousands of citizens who reside there to uncertainty and danger, which he believes would lead to societal division in Ukraine.

Further in the interview, Zelensky asserted that Ukraine is determined not only to resist but also to come out victorious in the ongoing conflict. He rejected any notion of retreating from strategically important areas that Russia had failed to capture, indicating a resilient attitude towards the invasion that has marked Ukraine since 2022. His confidence in a Ukrainian victory underscores the broader sentiment among national leadership that the fight for sovereignty and territorial integrity is non-negotiable.

Zelensky additionally made a noteworthy claim regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that the Russian leader has already initiated a Third World War. He called for a united global effort that encompasses military and economic pressure on Russia to compel withdrawal from occupied territories. This statement reflects the escalating urgency for international support for Ukraine amidst its ongoing struggle against Russian aggression, highlighting a pivotal moment for both Ukraine and the geopolitical landscape.