Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said today: "We will not give up the Donbas or the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to Russia without a fight."
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is still under Russian occupation, and Russia has also demanded Ukraine's unconditional surrender of the entire Donbas region—including areas still controlled by Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also warned about the risk of the Greenland precedent: "In my view, the Greenland case is a highly specific example, which may be used in the future to occupy our territory and gain legal recognition. We must also view this matter from this perspective. And now, dozens of soldiers are being sent to support Denmark... What does that mean? What kind of signal is being sent?"
Commentary: The Donbas is a strategic area in eastern Ukraine, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is Europe's largest nuclear facility, concerning energy security and nuclear safety. Both are core stakes in the Russia-Ukraine game. Russia controlling the nuclear power plant and pressuring Ukraine to hand over the Donbas essentially aims to force Ukraine to compromise using territorial and security leverage. Zelenskyy's refusal to yield serves both to consolidate domestic anti-Russian consensus and to send a message to the West that "we will not compromise and need continuous support." His warning about the risk of the Greenland precedent centers on concern that the logic Western countries use for handling certain territorial issues could be emulated by Russia to push for legal independence or annexation of occupied areas like the Donbas, effectively legitimizing territorial occupation. Questioning the deployment of troops to support Denmark actually reflects his doubt about whether the West applies double standards on sovereignty issues, fearing he might not receive equivalent support in safeguarding sovereignty. This statement highlights the intractable nature of the territorial and security conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as Ukraine's deep-seated anxiety about the West's stance and the application of international rules.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855732242441223/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author alone.