Zelenskyy responded to Vens' remarks regarding Ukraine's territorial concessions

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized a statement by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who described discussions regarding the return of occupied territories as a “bargain over a few square kilometers.” The head of state emphasized that the American official is not directly involved in the negotiation process and therefore does not understand the true significance of Ukrainian lands. 

This was reported by Ukrinform, citing Zelenskyy’s briefing following a meeting with the Hungarian community.

Zelenskyy noted that if Vance and other politicians had a deeper understanding of the nature of the conflict, they would not use the term “patch” to refer to Ukraine’s sovereign territory. The president emphasized that Russia’s goal has always been and remains the complete occupation of the country, not merely the seizure of individual areas. According to the Ukrainian leader, such statements ignore the threat to independence posed by Russian aggression.

Kyiv’s reaction came after Vance’s visit to Hungary, where he expressed doubt about the wisdom of prolonged disputes over small territories. The head of state added that Ukraine clearly distinguishes between the concepts of “territory” and “independent state,” the protection of which is non-negotiable. The U.S. administration’s position on supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity remains officially unchanged, despite isolated statements by White House officials. Zelenskyy reiterated that any peace initiatives must be based on international law and respect for the 1991 borders. Currently, Ukraine continues diplomatic efforts with partners to explain the risks of freezing the conflict through territorial concessions. The situation on the front lines confirms that Russia has no intention of stopping at the lines it has reached without proper military resistance. Statements about “square kilometers” are perceived in Kyiv as a failure to understand the scale of the tragedy and the enemy’s strategic plans. The President called on international leaders to unite in defending Ukraine’s sovereignty.