Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Peter Harris, Associate Professor of Political Science, Colorado State University

Ukraine is under pressure to trade land for peace − if it does, history shows it might not ever get it back

An elderly Ukrainian walks through the rubble following a Russian aerial bomb strike in Donetsk Oblast. Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images

Asked in December 2025 what the biggest sticking point was in negotiating peace in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump got straight to the point: land. “Some of that land has been taken. Some of that land is maybe up for grabs,” he added.

From the very beginning of the full-scale war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ruled out ceding territory to the invading Russians.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.