Zelensky says Kyiv has no right to cede land to Russia

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a meeting with his French, British and German counterparts in London on December 8, 2025. TOBY MELVILLE / AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday, December 8, that Kyiv had no legal or moral right to give up land to Russia in any deal aimed at ending Moscow's nearly four-year invasion. "Do we envision ceding territories? We have no legal right to do so, under Ukrainian law, our constitution and international law. And we don't have any moral right either," Zelensky said in an online press conference, stating that the United States was trying to find a compromise on the issue.

Subscribers only

Europeans stunned and challenged by new US security strategy

"Russia is insisting that we give up territories, but we don't want to cede anything. We are fighting for that, as you well know," he continued, adding: "There are difficult problems concerning the territories and so far there has been no compromise."