Zelensky reaffirms not to compromise on territorial integrity

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that no agreement has been reached on the Donetsk region during the recent peace talks, reaffirming that Ukraine is not prepared to cede its territory to Russia, reported Xinhua.

"We are ready for compromises that lead to a real end to the war, but which are definitely not related to changing the territorial integrity of Ukraine," Zelensky was quoted as saying by the Ukrinform news agency.

The United States has proposed a compromise solution involving the establishment of a free economic zone in the Donbas, Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine proposes that control over this area should be distributed along the frontline.

He emphasized that all territorial issues must be resolved at the level of the countries' leaders.

Zelensky also suggested that the agreement on security guarantees for Ukraine should be signed before the conclusion of a peace deal.

On Jan. 23-24 in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, representatives from Ukraine, the United States and Russia held their first trilateral meeting since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Meanwhile, the date and venue for the next round of peace talks on Ukraine, initially planned for Sunday in Abu Dhabi, may change, Zelensky said Friday.

"It is very important for us that everyone we reached agreements with attends this meeting, because everyone is expecting feedback. However, the date or the venue may change," he was quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency as telling reporters.

He noted that the developments "in the situation with the U.S. and Iran" could affect the timing of the talks.

Zelensky rejected Russia's idea to hold peace talks at the highest level in Moscow and instead invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kiev.

"I'm ready for any effective format to end the war. But in Moscow and Belarus that is simply impossible," Zelensky said.

Representatives from Ukraine, the United States and Russia held their first trilateral meeting since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Jan. 23-24 in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates.

On Thursday, local media reported that Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia is only considering Moscow as a venue for a possible meeting between Zelensky and Putin.

Meanwhile, Zelensky said that Ukraine is prepared to observe an energy ceasefire with Russia that began overnight on Friday, the Ukrinform news agency reported.

"Ukraine is ready to mirror the restraint from strikes, and today we did not attack Russian energy facilities," Zelensky said in an evening address.

He added that the U.S. had proposed a one-week pause in attacks on energy infrastructure.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from attacking the Ukrainian capital and other cities for a week due to the severe cold.

Earlier on Friday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia had agreed to suspend strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities until Feb. 1 following Trump's request, according to RBC-Ukraine news outlet.