The eastern Donbas are currently home to the biggest battle Europe has seen in generations.

The largest city of Donbas, Luhansk, has fallen under Russian control. Hence there is some skepticism associated with the claims of the Ukrainian government that they will take back lost territory in the region.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko is now responding to rumors that international allies want a peace treaty between Ukraine and Russia. There is speculation whether Ukraine is willing to give Moscow the Donbas industrial estate in exchange for peace.

– I can get angry when I listen to messages from our partners in Europe. They came with the same message to us as to Russia: “okay, we (West, editor’s note) are ready to find a compromise, will we find a solution together?”, said the mayor.

Klitschko rhetorically asks what kind of compromise is meant.

– Is giving up some of our territory a compromise? For us Ukrainians, no, he said.

A betrayal from the West

Klitschko is open about being betrayed by Western allies. According to the mayor, the West did not understand that Russia would somehow violate a potential peace deal.

– Russia will not stop at the Donbas. They want all of Ukraine, he explained.

Klitschko, a former heavyweight boxing champion, came up with a metaphor from the boxing ring to explain the situation.

– Sport has rules and even war has rules, but Russia doesn’t follow the rule book, he explained.

He ended the interview on Sky News with an invitation:

– We need more help – don’t let us down.