Zelensky Vows Ukraine Will Not Surrender Any Territory and Stands Firm Against Moscow in Kyiv on Fourth Anniversary of Russian Invasion

Four years after Russia launched a full-scale assault on Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with the BBC from Kyiv, delivering a message of unyielding defiance.

“Will we lose? Of course not,” he said, underlining that Ukraine will not surrender any territory to Moscow, despite the enormous pressure to make concessions.

Zelensky framed the conflict not merely as a battle for land but as a fight to preserve the freedom and lives of Ukrainian citizens.

He warned that the stakes extend far beyond Ukraine, suggesting that Vladimir Putin has already triggered a global confrontation.

“I believe that Putin has already started World War Three,” Zelensky said.

“The question is how much territory he can seize and how to stop him.

Russia wants to impose a different way of life on the world, forcing changes people never chose.”

The Debate Over Territory and Ceasefire

Moscow continues to demand Ukraine hand over significant areas in the east and south, including parts of Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia – regions devastated by years of fighting.

While some Western officials argue that territorial compromises are inevitable, Zelensky rejected this as an option.

“To give up land would not just be a strategic mistake; it would be abandonment,” he explained.

“Hundreds of thousands of our people live there. Retreating would divide our society and weaken our positions.”

He stressed that any deal satisfying Russia would only provide a temporary lull.

Putin, according to Zelensky, would pause to rebuild strength before resuming the war, potentially within just a couple of years.

Fighting for More Than Borders

Victory, Zelensky insists, isn’t only about reclaiming territory.

It’s about preventing a broader catastrophe.

“Stopping Putin today and preventing him from occupying Ukraine is a victory for the whole world,” he said.

“He will not stop at Ukraine.”

While Kyiv remains committed to restoring its internationally recognized borders, Zelensky acknowledged the grim realities of achieving this immediately.

“What is land without people? Honestly, nothing,” he reflected, highlighting the human toll behind every square kilometer of territory.

Relations with the United States

Tensions with Washington have complicated Ukraine’s war effort.

Zelensky’s visit to the White House last year sparked a heated exchange with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, signaling a shift from the robust support provided under Joe Biden.

Although the U.S. has reduced direct military shipments, Ukraine continues to rely heavily on American intelligence and European-funded weaponry.

Recent US-mediated peace talks collapsed after less than two hours, following Zelensky’s claim that pressure on Ukraine outweighed that on Russia.

“Lasting peace cannot come from simply handing victory to Moscow,” he told Axios, signaling that Kyiv will not yield under unequal expectations.

He emphasized that any long-term security guarantees from Washington must be institutionally grounded, not dependent on individual leaders.

Uncertainty Around Elections

Under martial law, Ukraine’s 2024 elections have been postponed.

Moscow has repeatedly questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, a narrative echoed in some American political circles.

Zelensky has not yet decided whether he will run again, though he suggested elections could be held if they are necessary to end the war and secure binding security guarantees.

“If elections are needed to end the war, let’s do it,” he said, challenging critics to be honest about their motives.

“Do you want to remove me or hold elections? Hold them in a way the Ukrainian people will recognize.”

What’s Next?

As the conflict enters its fifth year, Ukraine faces a complex path ahead.

The Kremlin’s objectives remain aggressive, Western support is fluctuating, and the human cost continues to mount.

Analysts warn that the coming months could determine whether Ukraine can sustain its resistance and what shape a future peace might take.

Zelensky, however, remains resolute: no surrender, no retreat, and no compromise on Ukrainian sovereignty.

The message is clear: Ukraine will fight not just for land, but for its people, independence, and the global precedent set by this war.

Summary

Four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, Zelensky reaffirmed that Ukraine will not cede territory despite immense pressure.

He framed the conflict as part of a wider global struggle, warning that Putin has already sparked a broader war.

Zelensky rejected territorial concessions as both morally and strategically unacceptable, emphasized the human cost of land lost, and highlighted that victory extends beyond battlefield lines.

Relations with the U.S. are tense, peace talks have faltered, and Ukraine’s election timeline remains uncertain.

His stance remains firm: resistance, sovereignty, and defending global security are non-negotiable.