![Exclusive: Zelensky says Ukraine won't give up territory in the east to end war with Russia](https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/220416194742-volodymyr-zelensky-screengrab-041522-super-tease.jpg)
Exclusive: Zelensky says Ukraine won't give up territory in the east to end war with Russia
CNN
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN that Ukraine is not willing to give up territory in the eastern part of the country to end the war with Russia, and Ukraine's military is prepared to fight Moscow's military in the Donbas region in a battle he says could influence the course of the entire war.
Zelensky said in an exclusive interview Friday with CNN's Jake Tapper from the office of the president in Kyiv that his country has no guarantee that Russia wouldn't try again to seize Kyiv if it is able to capture Donbas.
"This is why it is very important for us to not allow them, to stand our ground, because this battle ... it can influence the course of the whole war," Zelensky said.
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