By Matt Underwood 
Zelenskyy insists Ukraine will not pull its forces out of Donbas. It’s a pretty clear statement, and honestly, it’s hard to imagine him doing anything else. The idea of Ukraine simply ceding territory, especially in the Donbas region, in exchange for some vague promise of peace just doesn’t hold water. It’s a brilliant piece of propaganda from the other side to even suggest that in the first place, designed to create a false narrative.
The core of the issue is this: there are absolutely no guarantees of peace if Ukraine simply hands over land. Zero, zilch, nada. To frame the situation as “giving up land = peace” is a fundamentally flawed equation. Even those sympathetic to Ukraine’s plight tend to get caught up in the unfairness of Russia demanding land, shifting the discussion away from the crucial questions of what a real peace would look like and how it would be secured.
The strategy then shifts to painting Ukraine as stubborn, as if it’s the fault of Ukraine that peace isn’t possible. But the truth is far more complex. History teaches us that Russia, when given an inch, will take a mile. Surrendering land now, even for a temporary respite, doesn’t guarantee any long-term security. It just invites further aggression down the line, likely towards places like Kharkiv.
It’s not just about land; it’s about the people living there, and the potential for millions to fall under a brutal regime. Imagine someone suggesting you hand over part of your own country for peace. Would you? It normalizes and rewards imperial powers, letting them get away with taking whatever they want. The simple fact is, Russia should be the one pulling its forces out, not Ukraine.
Ukraine has already signed peace deals with Russia, and they have been violated. Why sign another one, only to see it broken again? It’s Ukrainian land, stolen by Putin, and he needs to be defeated, period. Why should Ukraine hand over its most defensible positions in the Donbas, towns that have been heavily fortified since 2014, just to potentially invite further aggression?
This is not a matter of weakness, it is an understanding of the reality on the ground. To give up these defensive systems would be a strategic blunder, and would invite a quicker Russian advance. Zelenskyy’s insistence on not withdrawing forces is a stance rooted in reality. Any attempts to portray this as a lack of willingness to find peace are disingenuous.
And if peace was truly on the table, it would be different, and not simply a land grab by another name. It is not, and it would be a disaster to fall for this particular ruse. Ukraine’s future is at stake. It’s better to keep Russia grinding, expending its military equipment and manpower. Why would Zelenskyy risk the lives of his people, who would be forced to live under the yoke of a brutal regime, for some hollow promise of peace?
This idea of giving up territory in exchange for peace is a dangerous illusion. Russia has no interest in lasting peace. The propaganda is to create the idea that peace is possible, but Ukraine is stubborn. Zelenskyy is not being stubborn; he is being smart and protecting the future of his nation.
The potential outcomes if Ukraine gives up territory are grim – death, famine, or deportation. The right choice is clear. The Ukrainians will not give up, especially when the Russians have failed for so long. Zelenskyy is rightly focusing on securing the best possible outcome for his country, and that means holding his ground. The future of Ukraine depends on it.