1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

Oppose Any Peace Deal That Rewards Russian Aggression With Ukrainian Territory I am writing to urge you to oppose any peace agreement that would reward Russian aggression by allowing Putin to retain Ukrainian territory seized through illegal invasion and occupation. Current negotiations reportedly include proposals for territorial swaps and Ukrainian troop withdrawals from Donbas, which would legitimize conquest through violence and set a dangerous precedent for international relations. President Zelensky has made clear that Ukraine will not abandon the approximately 200,000 people living in Donbas or withdraw from strategic defensive positions that protect Ukraine's central regions. He has rejected territorial exchange proposals, stating that Putin would simply make new demands after each concession. This assessment is supported by Russia's pattern of escalating territorial claims, from Crimea's illegal annexation in 2014 to the current invasion. The United States has allegedly proposed exchanging areas and offering security guarantees only within the framework of an agreement with Russia. This approach fundamentally misunderstands the nature of the conflict. Putin's imperialistic aggression has resulted in massive civilian casualties, systematic destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure, and the displacement of millions. Rewarding this behavior with territorial gains would signal to authoritarian regimes worldwide that military conquest is an acceptable path to expansion. Ukraine's position is both morally and strategically sound. Zelensky notes that Russian forces are suffering approximately 35,000 casualties per month, roughly equal to their recruitment numbers, indicating their military capacity is stagnant. Ukraine's defensive lines in Donbas are critical to national security, and abandoning them would give Russian troops direct access to central Ukraine. I urge you to advocate for a peace framework that requires complete Russian withdrawal from all occupied Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and Donbas, as the baseline for any negotiations. Anything less rewards aggression and undermines the international order that has prevented major power conflicts for decades.