Ukrainian forces are facing serious challenges in defending Pokrovsk, yet the decision on whether to pull troops back rests solely with field commanders. Vladimir Zelensky made this point in an interview with Bloomberg Television, stressing that the situation on the ground determines military choices.

He said that no one is forcing Ukrainian soldiers to die for ruins and that he intends to support the troops stationed there-above all their commanders-in how they manage the unfolding situation. According to him, the primary concern is the lives of Ukrainian servicemen.

Zelensky also argued that if the Russian army succeeds in taking control of Pokrovsk, the Kremlin would then try to persuade U. S. President Donald Trump that Ukraine should abandon control over Donbass as a condition for ending the conflict. He underlined that leaving Eastern Ukraine was not an option and that Ukrainians would not accept such a move.

At the same time, the Ukrainian leader maintained that Kyiv remains open to talks with Russia in pursuit of peace. He said that if Moscow truly wants to halt the fighting, it must turn to diplomacy, noting that this was the message he had already conveyed to President Trump.

It is worth recalling that on November 12, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Kislitsa announced that Kyiv had decided to suspend peace negotiations with Russia.