Zelenskyy reaffirms Ukraine will not cede territory, calls for binding security guarantees

ISTANBUL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday reaffirmed that Kyiv will not give up any territory in exchange for peace with Russia, stressing the need for legally binding security guarantees and expanded Western military support.

Speaking alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in the Danish capital of Copenhagen, Zelenskyy underscored that Ukraine counts on both US and European partners to continue supplying weapons and financial assistance.

“We really have more than about 30 security documents, but we need more than these papers. First of all, they must be legally binding. It doesn’t matter who will be the leader of one or another country—this system has to work,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s defense depends on a strong army, weapons, and stable financing.

The Ukrainian president also stressed the importance of US-made Patriot air defense systems, saying only Washington, DC, can provide enough missiles to shield Ukrainian cities from Russian attacks.

“We need Patriots and all these systems, and to be realistic, mostly the United States has them,” he noted.

Zelenskyy voiced frustration at delays in sanctions and military deliveries, saying he had asked US President Donald Trump to use tariffs and other pressure to push Russian President Vladimir Putin toward political negotiations.

“If Putin will not do it, I asked him (Trump) to put sanctions, tariffs, or any pressure what you can on Russia. Otherwise, he will never stop this war,” Zelenskyy said.

When asked if he would consider territorial concessions, Zelenskyy dismissed the idea outright.

“Nobody trusts Putin. For somebody, it may be just territory, but for us, it’s our law, constitution, life, history, houses, and families. People who fled want to come back. We can’t give him such presents,” he said, stressing that Putin has not been able to capture "even 30%" of the Donbas region in four years despite heavy losses.

Frederiksen, for her part, reiterated that Ukraine is not only fighting for itself but “for the entire future of Europe,” while emphasizing the need for Europe to sustain support.

The Danish premier further touched on the issue of security guarantees for Kyiv, arguing that ensuring Ukraine has a strong army is the most important part of such assurances to achieve a lasting peace.

Zelenskyy arrived in Denmark earlier Wednesday, where he met with leaders of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8).