Ukraine will not pull its forces out of Donbas, Zelenskiy says

FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy looks on during a visit to a military training area to find out about the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the Patriot missile system, at an undisclosed location in Germany, June 11, 2024. Jens Buttner/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

KYIV (Reuters) -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday he would reject any Russian proposal to pull Ukrainian troops out of the eastern Donbas region as it would deprive Kyiv of defensive lines and open the way for Moscow to conduct further offensives.

The Ukrainian leader told reporters that territorial issues should be discussed after Russia agrees to a ceasefire, and security guarantees for Ukraine should be an integral part of that discussion.