The withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from fortified positions in the Donetsk region could pose a threat of a further Russian offensive on the industrial cities of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky warned that handing over strategically important defensive lines to Russia would not guarantee an end to the war and could allow the Russian army to advance deeper into the country.

The head of state said this in an interview with British entrepreneur and podcast host of The Diary of a CEO Steven Bartlett, published on October 22.

According to Zelensky, Russia seeks to gain control over the entire eastern part of Ukraine, in particular over Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. The President explained that these cities are important for Ukrainian defense because they are located in the direction leading to the Dnipropetrovsk region.

During the conversation, Zelensky showed on a map the possible directions of further advancement of Russian troops. He mentioned Pavlohrad and other cities of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, emphasizing the economic importance of this region for Ukraine.

The President separately drew attention to the industrial potential of the region, in particular machine building and manufacturing enterprises. In his assessment, handing over the current fortified positions in Donetsk Oblast to Russia would create additional risks for Ukrainian industrial centers.

Zelensky emphasized that the Ukrainian army holds strong defensive lines in the east, which deter the possibility of a further Russian offensive. If the Armed Forces of Ukraine leave these positions as part of a potential peace agreement, Russia would gain territory without the need to overcome these fortifications in battle.

In the President's opinion, in that case Moscow would be able to use the new positions to continue offensive operations if it decides not to adhere to agreements on ending the war.

He stressed that no one can guarantee the absence of further Russian advancement after a possible withdrawal of Ukrainian troops. That is why Kyiv insists on reliable security guarantees within the framework of future peace settlement.

Zelensky also stated that he considers Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv as potential targets of Russian expansion. According to him, Moscow does not make public demands regarding these cities, but he is convinced that the Russian leadership has not abandoned intentions to establish control over them.

At the same time, the President noted that Ukraine is already ready to consider a ceasefire as a significant compromise for the sake of ending hostilities. However, according to him, Russia demands additional withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from territories remaining under Kyiv's control.

Zelensky emphasized that agreeing to a ceasefire and handing over strategically important defensive positions are decisions different in their consequences. The latter, in his opinion, creates long-term risks for the security of other Ukrainian regions.

Earlier Zelensky already rejected the possibility of the withdrawal of Ukrainian Armed Forces from the part of Donbas under Ukrainian control as a condition of a peace agreement. At that time he stated that without sufficient security guarantees, handing over fortified positions could make it easier for Russia to advance further.

Based on materials: The Diary of a CEO, 22.10.2026