Overview

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Kyiv “will not give Russia any awards” after President Trump suggested swapping Ukrainian territories ahead of his meeting with Vladimir Putin
• Constitutional experts including Ihor Reiterovych say altering Ukraine’s borders requires a nationwide referendum, rendering unilateral land swaps illegal
• Russia controls about one-fifth of Ukraine—including Crimea and large portions of Donetsk and Luhansk—limiting what territory could be exchanged
• Recent polls indicate Ukrainians prefer freezing the front line over ceding land, provided Western allies offer robust security guarantees
• The Institute for the Study of War warns that surrendering key regions such as Donetsk would strengthen Russia’s ability to launch future offensives and prompt civilian displacement