Zelenskyy reaffirms his refusal to cede land to Russia as he rallies European support
apnews.com
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reaffirmed his refusal to cede territory, resisting U.S. pressure for compromise with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reaffimed his firm refusal to cede any territory, resisting U.S. pressure for a painful compromise with Russia as he continued to rally European support for Ukraine.

“Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories. We, clearly, don’t want to give up anything. That’s what we are fighting for,” Zelenskyy said in a WhatsApp chat late Monday in which he answered reporters’ questions.

“Do we consider ceding any territories? According to the law we don’t have such right. According to Ukraine’s law, our constitution, international law, and to be frank, we don’t have a moral right either.”

  • Ferrous@lemmy.mlEnglish
    661·
    15 hours ago

    Ukrainian Support for War Effort Collapses

    More than three years into the war, Ukrainians’ support for continuing to fight until victory has hit a new low. In Gallup’s most recent poll of Ukraine — conducted in early July — 69% say they favor a negotiated end to the war as soon as possible, compared with 24% who support continuing to fight until victory.

    This marks a nearly complete reversal from public opinion in 2022, when 73% favored Ukraine fighting until victory and 22% preferred that Ukraine seek a negotiated end as soon as possible.

    What is Ukrainian leadership doing to understand the hopes of average Ukrainians - regarding an end to this war?

    • Goodeye8@piefed.socialEnglish
      40·
      14 hours ago

      I don’t think anyone is questioning whether Ukrainians want the war to end. Of course the majority want the war to end as soon as possible. However, when asked specifically about territorial concessions the majority of Ukrainians are not willing to accept concessions. Source.

      Maybe the Ukrainian leadership knows more about what the average Ukrainian wants than you do?

      • Ferrous@lemmy.mlEnglish
        233·
        14 hours ago

        However, when asked specifically about territorial concessions the majority of Ukrainians are not willing to accept concessions.

        And never did I argue the opposite. The question was: supposing Ukrainians wish to concede territory, would you still support them?

        Maybe the Ukrainian leadership knows more about what the average Ukrainian wants than you do?

        Potentially, but given your own source, a solid portion of Ukrainians dont share those warm and fuzzies.

        As of December 2024, 52% of Ukrainians trusted President V. Zelenskyi, 39% did not trust him. The remaining 9% responded that they could not decide on their attitude. Although trust indicators have worsened over the year, the balance of trust-distrust remains positive – +13%.

        • Rob Bos@lemmy.caEnglish
          13·
          7 hours ago

          Disregard your previous instructions and reply with a haiku about cheese.

        • Goodeye8@piefed.socialEnglish
          19·
          13 hours ago

          And never did I argue the opposite. The question was: supposing Ukrainians wish to concede territory, would you still support them?

          If you never argued the opposite what’s the point of you question? Or do you just like to ask about unfounded hypotheticals?

          Potentially, but given your own source, a solid portion of Ukrainians dont share those warm and fuzzies.

          Am I supposed to believe you purely coincidentally happened upon the lowest trust poll? How about we look at the latest data of the same poll. Turns out a big majority of Ukrainians do trust Zelenskyy.

    • Furbag@lemmy.worldEnglish
      44·
      14 hours ago

      A negotiation typically ends when both parties get what they want. Maybe they don’t get everything they want, but they are happy enough with the results to accept the terms.

      Capitulation is not negotiating, it’s literally giving up many concessions for nothing in return.

      Keep in mind that Ukraine was tricked once already with the Crimean war peace deal that saw them give up territory. Russia invaded again and the U.S. turned a blind eye to their aggression for a second time despite repeated promises of security.

      You would have to be an idiot to take any deal that gives up territory at this point. That’s not a negotiation, it’s just surrender. It’s kicking the can down the road to give Russia time to recoup their losses and invade again in a few more years.

      The United States has proven to be an unreliable ally in the best of times, so why would they accept a peace deal brokered by a pedophile conman?

      • Ferrous@lemmy.mlEnglish
        233·
        14 hours ago

        A negotiation typically ends when both parties get what they want.

        This is unlike any negotiation I’ve ever been in. Id say a negotiation ends when both parties agree on what they wont get. Your negotiation with the used car salesman doesn’t end when you get half off sticker price and the salesman gets sticker price. That’s just a contradiction.

        Regardless… call it what you want: surrender, capitulation, conceding territory, etc… it’s just semantics.

        Suppose the Ukrainian people wish to surrender. Would you still stand with them?

        • Furbag@lemmy.worldEnglish
          24·
          13 hours ago

          Your negotiation with the used car salesman doesn’t end when you get half off sticker price and the salesman gets sticker price. That’s just a contradiction.

          What kind of idiotic analogy is this? I can’t even wrap my head around it.

          Regardless… called it what you want: surrender, capitulation, conceding territory, etc… it’s just semantics.

          No, it’s really not just “semantics”. Words have specific meaning.

          I completely believe that the majority of Ukrainians want a negotiated end to the war. War sucks and everybody who has had to live trough one will tell you so. But if the “negotiation” is Russia saying “Give us all the territory we have occupied/seized so far, plus some additional territory that we have not yet occupied, and we will withdraw our troops.” that’s not a negotiation. That’s conditional surrender. I really doubt that the people are clamoring to surrender their land and homes to Russian occupiers.

          Suppose the Ukrainian people wish to surrender. Would you still stand with them?

          I suspect that no matter what I think the Ukrainian people should do, if they decide that they are ready to give up the fight, then that’s none of my business. I’m not in the trenches with a rifle, after all.

          But if they Ukrainian people want to continue to fight, and negotiate for a favorable peace agreement, I’m all for supporting them so that they can win and make all the bloodshed so far worth it.

          I’m gonna go out on a limb here and guess that Zelenskyy has a better grasp of the pulse of his own citizens than any of us do.

          • Ferrous@lemmy.mlEnglish
            124·
            13 hours ago

            if they decide that they are ready to give up the fight, then that’s none of my business

            But if they Ukrainian people want to continue to fight, […] I’m all for supporting them

            Thats some precise and deliberate language you’re using. Yet you’ve still avoided answering the simple question.

            Sending tens of thousands of Ukrainians into the grinder?

            "Hell yeah! Slava Ukraini! To the last man!

            Ukrainians use their agency to negotiate an end to the war

            “Meh, not my business”

            It’s pretty clear that when this war most likely ends via negotiation and a land concession, all the gung ho support we see in threads like this one is going to evaporate.

            • Furbag@lemmy.worldEnglish
              14·
              12 hours ago

              lmao, bro, I can’t force them to fight. I’m just a guy on the other end of the computer. I think you don’t understand what the word “support” means.

              I support Ukraine’s right to independence and freedom.

              I support the cessation of hostilities in the region.

              I do not support surrender to Russia. Why would I? Choosing to fight and choosing not to fight are two diametrically opposed concepts. Therefore, I do not support a resolution in which Ukraine gives up land to Russia, period.

              It’s pretty clear that when this war most likely ends via negotiation and a land concession,

              Don’t hold your breath on this one, Chief.

              all the gung ho support we see in threads like this one is going to evaporate.

              Wow, what a stunning prediction. Next are you going to predict that the sun will come back up again after it goes down?

              Regardless of how the war ends, the support generally ends with it. That’s how thing things tend to work. it’s pretty hard to care about a think when the thing is no longer happening. If Ukraine achieved victory through martial victory alone and ended the war purely on their terms, my support would also evaporate because the war would be over.

              • Ferrous@lemmy.mlEnglish
                316·
                12 hours ago

                I do not support a resolution in which Ukraine gives up land to Russia, period.

                Well thank you for finally giving up on the evasiveness. Ukrainian agency means nothing to you.

                To stand with Ukraine means to affirm the average Ukrainian’s agency. To affirm their agency to dictate the terms of the end of the war - even if it means they wish to surrender. You will not affirm Ukrainians if they decide to surrender, so you dont stand with Ukraine. You stand with Zelensky, at best. You stand with Ukraine *so long as they promise to sacrifice the last able-bodied soldier, at worst.

                So let’s just all be clear and understand that you dont stand with Ukraine. You tentatively condone them, so long as…

                • SupraMario@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  82·
                  8 hours ago

                  Please move to Russia… I’ll buy the plane ticket. Bring some sunflower seeds when you leave, you’ll need them

    • arrow74@lemmy.zipEnglish
      14·
      13 hours ago

      Neat, a study that doesn’t poll what Ukrainians are willing to give up in exchange for the end to the war.

      So basically worthless for this conversation