Ukraine has told President Trump it is ready to sit down for peace talks — but any deal that surrenders the Donbas region is off the table. The message was delivered jointly by President Volodymyr Zelensky and German politician Friedrich Merz, according to a statement from Kyiv.
The message to Trump
The communication was sent to Trump as part of a broader diplomatic push. Zelensky and Merz laid out Ukraine's position clearly: open to negotiations, unwilling to trade land for peace. "We want a just end to the war, not a surrender of our territory," the statement said. Trump has not yet responded publicly.
Why Donbas matters
The Donbas region has been at the center of the conflict since 2014. It's a heavily industrialized area in eastern Ukraine, home to millions of people and key infrastructure. For Ukraine, giving up Donbas would mean abandoning both its citizens and its economic heartland. For Russia, control of the region has been a stated goal since the war began.
Ukraine's refusal to cede Donbas is a red line that has defined previous peace efforts. In 2022, talks collapsed partly over the same issue. Now, with Trump returning to the White House, Kyiv wants to make sure the new administration knows where it stands.
Merz's role
Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union, traveled to Kyiv and Washington as part of the effort. His presence underscores how European allies are trying to keep the U.S. engaged in Ukraine's defense. Merz has been a vocal supporter of arming Ukraine, calling Russia's invasion a threat to all of Europe.
It's not the first time Merz has acted as a go-between. He has met with Zelensky several times and pushed for a coordinated Western response. Including him in the message to Trump signals that Ukraine wants a united front — not just bilateral talks.
What Ukraine is offering
Kyiv hasn't detailed its terms for a peace settlement beyond the Donbas condition. But the offer to negotiate at all is a shift from earlier positions when Ukraine demanded a full Russian withdrawal first. The war has dragged on, casualties are high, and international aid has become a political football in some capitals.
Zelensky has repeatedly said he wants a diplomatic solution — but one that comes on Ukraine's terms. The message to Trump echoes that line. It also leaves the door open for discussions on other issues, like prisoner exchanges, security guarantees, and reconstruction aid.
Trump has said he could end the war in a day, but has not explained how. His team has offered few specifics on Ukraine policy. That makes the next move his.
