Kyiv will not agree to"the second attempt to divide Ukraine" About this in the evening video message President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, commenting on Russia's demands to hand over all of Donbas to it.

He emphasized that Ukraine and all its partners seek a ceasefire, while Russian dictator Vladimir Putin resists it.

"His only card in his hand is the ability to kill, and he is trying to sell stopping the deaths as dearly as possible. It is important that this does not deceive anyone. What is needed is not a pause in the killings, but a real, lasting peace. Not a ceasefire sometime later, in months, but immediately," Zelensky said.

According to him, active diplomatic work is currently underway to bring peace to Ukraine. In particular, contacts with the American side"continue almost around the clock" at various levels, although not everything is made public.

Zelensky also noted that Putin is now trying to"jump out" of new sanctions, the introduction of which Donald Trump threatened not so long ago. According to the Ukrainian president, the Kremlin seeks to exchange a"pause in the killings" for "territorial spoils."

"Putin wants to be forgiven for seizing the south of our Kherson region, Zaporizhia, the entire territory of Luhansk region, Donetsk region, and Crimea. We will not allow this second attempt to divide Ukraine by Russia. Knowing Russia, where there is a second, there is a third. Therefore, we stand firmly, on clear Ukrainian positions," Zelensky said.

The idea of"territory exchange"

As UNIAN reported, the day before, the US president stated that within the framework of the future peace agreement there will be a"territorial exchange" Trump did not explain what was meant, but emphasized that Kyiv would have to take painful steps.

According to Western media, Putin continues to insist on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from all territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions.

American analysts warn that Northern Donbas cannot be given to Ukraine to the Russians even in exchange for a ceasefire. Experts note that this will greatly facilitate the aggressor's attack on Kharkiv and the Dnieper in the event of a resumption of war. And analysts have no doubt that Russia will violate the peace agreement.