Kateryna Chernoval22:07, 19.05.25

The President emphasized that no one will withdraw Ukrainian troops from Ukrainian territories.

Following a conversation with US President Donald Trump, Russian President Putin said that Russia is ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum on a future peace treaty. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about the potential memorandum.

“I understand that they discussed it with Putin, with the Russian side, that there could be an appropriate memorandum in a bilateral format, which could then lead to a map leading to the end of the war, that is, to an agreement. A memorandum that would be supported by all or both countries, which would also include a ceasefire, let’s say. So far, this is unknown to me. In any case, if the Russian side proposes a memorandum, and I think it will not be a secret, because this information always somehow appears in the public space. I think that from our side, after receiving the appropriate signals, we, having received the memorandum or proposals from the Russians, will be able to form our vision accordingly, as we see it,” the head of state said at a briefing. 

He noted that, as far as he knows from his conversation with Trump, Moscow wants to send Ukraine a corresponding memorandum, which will lay down principles that relate not only to the ceasefire. 

“I cannot give you an answer about what will be included in the memorandum, because I do not have this information. For me, my principles are those that are known to President Trump,” the president emphasized. 

At the same time, Zelensky stressed that no one will withdraw Ukrainian troops from Ukrainian territories:

“It is my constitutional duty, it is the duty of our military, to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Yes, now there are occupied territories due to aggression. And no one will surrender their lands, their territories, their people.”

According to him, this issue has been discussed repeatedly with President Trump and his team.

“If the Russian Federation sets conditions for withdrawing our troops from our land, it means they do not want a ceasefire. Because they clearly understand that Ukraine will not do this,” the Ukrainian president summed up. 

(C)UNIAN 2025