Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv will keep its forces in the eastern Donbas region, arguing that a withdrawal would allow Russian troops to push deeper into the country and threaten the Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions. Zelenskyy stated that Russian units are being redeployed from the northern Sumy region toward Pokrovsk and Zaporizhzhia and that Moscow appears to be preparing a new offensive that could begin shortly after 15 August and intensify at the start of September. The president reiterated that any discussion of territorial issues can take place only after hostilities end, stressing that Donbas remains ‘illegally occupied’ and serves as a potential springboard for further Russian attacks.
Zelensky announces: "If we leave Donbas, we will start a third war." https://t.co/7zJiXxosuW
Ukrainian President Zelensky: "We will not leave Donbas. We can't do that. Everyone forgets the main thing - our territories are illegally occupied. For the Russians, Donbas is a springboard for a future new offensive. If we leave Donbas on our own or under pressure, it will https://t.co/Qmshs5xz5n
Ukrainian President Zelensky: "We will not leave Donbas. We can't do that. Everyone forgets the main thing - our territories are illegally occupied. For the Russians, Donbas is a springboard for a future new offensive. If we leave Donbas on our own or under pressure, we will https://t.co/0sKw25DIZQ