Zelensky announced rejection of the "Anchorage agreements" in the negotiations
The so-called "Anchorage agreements," with which Russia linked its territorial claims to Ukraine, no longer define the current negotiation process. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian community in the United States as part of his visit to New York.
According to Zelensky, the negotiation process has moved away both from the issue of Ukraine's neutral status and from the formula he called the "Anchorage agreements 3+2." Ukrinform explains that this refers to demands regarding the recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as the parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions occupied by Russia.
The President noted that the American side played a certain role in changing the negotiating framework. However, he called the situation at the front and the actions of the Ukrainian army the main factor.
Zelensky stated that, despite the difficult situation, Russian troops have not managed to achieve large-scale advances. Where advances are happening, in his assessment, they cost Russia significant losses. The very state of affairs on the battlefield, according to the president, allows Ukraine not to agree to Russian demands, which Kyiv considers unacceptable.
However, the term "Anchorage agreements" does not denote a signed international treaty. It appeared after the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, in August 2025. Russian authorities subsequently repeatedly referred to the agreements allegedly reached there and the "spirit of Anchorage."
The American side denied the existence of a formal agreement. In June 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that proposals to end the war were discussed in Anchorage, but no agreement was concluded between the parties. According to him, if an agreement had actually existed, the war would already be over.
Zelensky also stated that the Ukrainian leadership does not consider Donbas the ultimate goal of the Russian leadership. In his assessment, Vladimir Putin still seeks to gain control over Ukraine in a much broader format. The President emphasized that the very difference in understanding Russia's ultimate goals makes the negotiation process particularly difficult.
The statement came after a new round of Ukrainian-American contacts in New York. On September 22, Zelensky met with Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Following the meeting, the President's Office reported that the sides discussed de-escalation steps that could open the way to a diplomatic settlement.
Zelensky later clarified that among the options being discussed are a mutual renunciation of strikes on energy infrastructure, a cessation of attacks in the Black Sea, and a possible trilateral negotiation format involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia. No final agreements on these directions have been announced yet.
Source: Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrinform, Office of the President of Ukraine
