KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly ruled out surrendering any territory to Russia in exchange for peace, just days before a planned Putin–Trump summit aimed at ending the three-year war.
The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled for August 15 in Alaska, a development that has raised concerns in Kyiv and across Europe over Ukraine’s exclusion from the negotiating table.
Announcing the summit on Friday, Mr. Trump hinted at a possible “swapping of territories to the betterment of both” Russia and Ukraine, but did not elaborate.
Responding sharply, Mr. Zelenskyy posted on social media:
“Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier. Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing.”
Kyiv’s Diplomatic Push
Mr. Zelenskyy stressed that the war “cannot be ended without Ukraine” and called on allies to take “clear steps” toward a sustainable peace. He spoke with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday, warning against any attempt by Moscow to mislead the international community.
Meanwhile, national security advisors from the U.S., EU nations, and the UK gathered in Britain to coordinate positions ahead of the summit.
War Background and Negotiation Deadlock
Three rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine in 2025 have failed to produce results, with both sides holding firm to their core demands. The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.
While Mr. Zelenskyy says Kyiv is “ready for real decisions that can bring peace”, he insists it must be a “dignified peace” — without territorial concessions to Moscow.
