The territorial concessions are expected to be a key point in the talks of Ukrainian President Voludimir Zelenski and European leaders with US President Donald Trump at the White House as part of a possible peace agreement to end the war with Russia.

Russia holds about one fifth of Ukrainian territory and Trump has stated that the “exchange of territories” and border changes will be decisive for any compromise. Two sources with the knowledge of Russian positions reported on Saturday that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump discussed a proposal that would require Ukraine the complete withdrawal of troops from the sections of the eastern region of Donetsk that still controlled Kiev.

What does the Ukrainian Constitution say

According to the Ukraine Constitution, any change in the territory can only be approved through a referendum. “The issues of change of Ukrainian territorial integrity are resolved exclusively by a referendum,” Article 73 says the question may be raised either by the initiative of political leadership or by the citizens themselves, provided that three million signatures of two thirds are collected.

The position of the Ukrainian government

Ukraine, like its European allies, categorically rejects the idea of legal recognition of any part of its territory as Russian. However, he has implicitly admitted that he will probably need to accept some de facto ground losses.

President Volodimir Zelenski has made it clear that talks on ending war should start from today’s front line and cannot be prerequisite for withdrawing Ukrainian troops from the dominant territories that Russia does not control.

He also stressed that he was not instructed to grant Ukrainian territory, stressing that parts of state land cannot be exchanged “as if it were his private property”.

In addition, he warned that if Ukraine withdraws troops from Donetsk’s strongly fortified Eastern district, the road to new Russian advancements will open deeper into weaker defensive Ukrainian territories.

The Trump Attitude

The US president has publicly criticized Volodimir Zelenski for citing the Constitution so as not to grant Ukrainian territories.

“I was a little annoyed by the fact that Zelensky was saying,” I have to get constitutional approval. ” That is, he has the approval to go to war, kill people, but need approval to do an exchange of territories. Because there will be some land exchange, “he said on August 11th.

The Ukrainian view

Polls show that, although the majority of Ukrainians want a negotiating solution, they reject the recognition of Ukrainian territories as Russian.

According to a study by the Kiev Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in June, 68% opposed the official recognition of “certain parts” occupied land as Russian, while 24% are more receptive to this idea.

The same gallop showed that 78% rejects the prospect of concession of territories that remain under the control of the Ukrainian forces. The research did not cover areas under Russian occupation.