Zelenskyy: Ukraine would fight on rather than accept "bad" deal with Russia

Ukraine’s president has said he would refuse to agree to a peace settlement with Russia if the terms were unfavourable to Kyiv, warning that Ukrainians should not be forced to accept what he described as a poor agreement.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would rather see the war continue than accept conditions that undermine Ukraine’s security or sovereignty, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The magazine reported concerns among some of the president’s aides that opportunities to reach a negotiated settlement may be narrowing, raising the prospect of a prolonged conflict.

Zelenskyy insisted that despite nearly four years of fighting, Ukraine was “not losing” and remained committed to securing what he called a dignified and lasting peace.

Recent diplomatic efforts have included two rounds of trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States. The meetings were held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, in late January and early February.

Zelenskyy suggested Washington was seeking a resolution to the conflict by early summer and could increase pressure on the parties involved to reach an agreement within that timeframe.

The Ukrainian leader also said that ending the war would represent the most significant achievement for Donald Trump.

He described a potential peace settlement as politically beneficial for the US president, particularly ahead of upcoming American midterm elections, while acknowledging that reducing casualties remained an important factor.

Zelenskyy noted that domestic political developments in the United States could influence the timeline for negotiations, as election campaigning gathers pace later this year.

By Aghakazim Guliyev