Kremlin Rejects Land Swap as Peskov Vows to “Destroy” Ukrainian Troops

Russia has never discussed and will never consider exchanging its territories, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed during a press briefing, in response to recent remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian state media outlet TASS reported on February 12.

“This is impossible. Russia has never discussed and will not discuss the issue of exchanging its territory,” Peskov stated.

Peskov also reiterated Russia’s stance on territories currently under Ukrainian control, asserting that Ukrainian forces would be expelled.

“They will be destroyed, they will be driven out,” he emphasized.

Peskov’s comments come after Zelenskyy suggested in an interview with The Guardian that Ukraine might consider exchanging territory seized by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region for land currently occupied by Russian troops.

However, Zelenskyy noted that it remains unclear what specific territory Ukraine would seek in return.

The Ukrainian president mentioned that such an exchange could only be possible if US President Donald Trump succeeded in bringing Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table.