London/Brussels, December 9, 2025 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a resolute message on Tuesday, declaring that Kyiv will not surrender any territory to Russia as negotiations intensify over a revised US peace proposal to end the nearly four-year war. Speaking to reporters en route to Brussels for meetings with NATO and European Union officials, Zelensky emphasized that territorial concessions would violate Ukraine’s constitution, international law, and fundamental moral principles.
“We definitely do not want to give anything up. That is what we are fighting for,” Zelensky said. “Under Ukrainian law, the Constitution, and international law, we have no legal or moral right to do so.”
Russia, which currently occupies roughly one-fifth of Ukraine including Crimea and large parts of the eastern Donbas, has consistently demands formal recognition of these territorial gains as a non-negotiable condition for any ceasefire. Moscow’s position remains the central obstacle in the talks, which gained new urgency after US President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025 and immediately prioritized a swift resolution.
Zelensky’s comments followed a high-stakes summit in London on Monday with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The four leaders met at 10 Downing Street to discuss “sensitive issues” such as long-term security guarantees for Ukraine and the future status of the eastern regions. Ahead of the meeting, Zelensky had urged Europeans and Americans to demonstrate “unity” against Russian aggression, warning that division would weaken Kyiv’s negotiating position.
After the talks, which Zelensky described as producing “slight progress towards a possible end to the war,” the leaders projected solidarity. German Chancellor Merz stated firmly: “We are still and remain strongly behind Ukraine… because we all know that the destiny of this country is the destiny of Europe.” French President Macron noted that Europe holds “a lot of cards” in the negotiations and expressed reservations about certain US proposals that appeared to favor Moscow. British Prime Minister Starmer, hosting the summit, reiterated that any ceasefire must be “just and lasting” and refused to pressure Zelensky into concessions. The group also held a video call with other EU leaders to coordinate a common response, including tightening economic sanctions on Russia to increase pressure for compromise.
Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine’s revised peace proposals — now condensed to a 20-point document — would be sent to Washington on Tuesday. The original 28-point US plan, presented in November 2025, had been heavily criticized by Kyiv and European capitals for tilting sharply toward Russian demands, including military caps, a veto on NATO membership, and explicit territorial transfers. “The anti-Ukrainian points were removed,” Zelensky said, though he acknowledged that Washington is still “looking for a compromise,” particularly on the future of Donbas. No agreement has yet been reached on territorial control.
Kyiv continues to insist on ironclad security guarantees from Western allies, especially the United States, to prevent future Russian invasions. “There is one question I — and all Ukrainians — want answered: If Russia starts a war again, what will our partners do?” Zelensky said. Discussions with European leaders also covered accelerating Ukraine’s EU membership as an integral part of its long-term security architecture.
Public tensions between Zelensky and President Trump have flared repeatedly. On Monday Trump accused Zelensky of not having read the latest version of the proposal and claimed that while Moscow is “fine” with it, Zelensky’s reluctance is holding up progress. The remarks followed inconclusive weekend talks in Miami between US and Ukrainian negotiators, which failed to resolve disputes over security guarantees and territory. Reports indicate that US envoys, after meeting Vladimir Putin in Moscow the previous week, hardened some terms — including full Russian control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and broader Donbas territories — prompting sharp pushback from Kyiv.
The diplomatic maneuvering coincides with a marked shift in US policy, outlined in the Trump administration’s new “America First” National Security Strategy released on December 5. The 33-page document drops previous language describing Russia as an existential threat and instead casts Washington as the “central broker” for European stability and “strategic stability with Russia.” It sharply criticizes European allies on economic, immigration, and cultural issues while framing a quick end to the Ukraine war as a core American interest to avoid escalation and refocus resources on China. The Kremlin welcomed the strategy, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov praising Trump as “strong” and expressing hope that it provides a “modest guarantee” for constructive dialogue on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the war on the ground remains brutal. Over the weekend Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults in months, firing 653 drones and 51 missiles at Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The barrage killed at least seven civilians and triggered widespread blackouts, with rolling power cuts imposed across the country, including 12-hour outages in Kyiv. Zelensky condemned the strikes as deliberate attempts to “weaponize the cold” ahead of winter and renewed calls for additional Western air-defense systems.
The attacks have also fueled European concerns about spillover threats. Ireland and France are investigating two new incidents this week involving unidentified drones flying dangerously close to their coastlines. In Ireland, military-grade drones violated a no-fly zone near Dublin just as Zelensky’s plane landed for a state visit; in France, similar sightings occurred near a nuclear submarine base. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the growing pattern of unexplained drone incursions across the continent as “hybrid warfare,” blending military intimidation with disinformation to undermine NATO unity without triggering open conflict.
As Zelensky arrives in Brussels, the stakes are immense. With the conflict having claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions, the current negotiations represent perhaps the most serious chance for peace since 2022 — but also the risk of a settlement that entrenches Russian gains and leaves Ukraine vulnerable. European leaders are working to present a united front, while Kyiv balances the urgent need for an end to the fighting with the non-negotiable principle of territorial integrity. Whether the revised 20-point plan can bridge these divides, or whether it will fracture the transatlantic alliance, remains the central question hanging over the war’s next chapter.
