Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out any agreement that concedes Ukrainian land to Russia. In a video statement on Saturday, he accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of seeking to legitimise occupied territories by offering to halt the war.
“Everyone can clearly see Putin’s tactics. He fears sanctions and is doing everything to bail on them. He wants to exchange a pause in the war, in the killings, for the legalisation of the occupation of our land,” Zelensky said.
He warned that Moscow’s ambitions would not end with one deal. “We will not allow this second attempt to partition Ukraine. Knowing Russia, where there is a second, there will be a third. That is why we stand firm on clear Ukrainian positions. We must end the war with a dignified peace, based on a clear and reliable security architecture,” he added.
Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska
The planned summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is set for 15 August in Alaska. It will be the first meeting between sitting US and Russian leaders since Biden and Putin met in Geneva in 2021.
Trump said the talks could include “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both” Ukraine and Russia, telling reporters at the White House, “We’re going to get some back, and we’re going to get some switched.” He did not explain which areas might be involved. As Ukraine holds no Russian territory, any exchange would mean Kyiv giving up land now under Russian control.
Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov called the choice of Alaska “entirely logical” given its position between the two countries.
Kyiv demands a seat at the table
Zelensky has warned that decisions made without Ukraine “are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work.”
He stressed that peace must not come through delay. “What is needed now is not a pause in the killings, but a real, lasting peace. Not a ceasefire sometime in the future, in months, but immediately. The path to peace for Ukraine must be determined together with Ukraine – this is fundamental.”
The White House is considering whether to invite Zelensky to Alaska. “It’s being discussed,” said one person familiar with the talks. A senior US official said it was “absolutely” possible, though it is unclear if Zelensky and Putin would meet directly.
Russia-Ukraine war so far
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 after a referendum not recognised by Ukraine and most of the international community. In 2022, it claimed four more regions – Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson – following similar votes. Moscow has demanded Kyiv withdraw its forces from these areas.
According to RT, Putin’s latest proposal includes retaining control of these territories as part of a settlement. Zelensky responded, “Now Putin wants to be forgiven for seizing the south of our Kherson region, Zaporozhye, the entire territory of Lugansk region, Donetsk region, and Crimea. We will not allow Russia to make this second attempt to divide Ukraine.”
Even as talks are discussed, the conflict continues. On Saturday, a Russian drone strike on a minibus in Kherson’s suburbs killed two people and injured 16, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. In Zaporizhzhia, another drone attack on a car killed two more, according to governor Ivan Fedorov.
Russia’s defence ministry said its air defences destroyed 97 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russia and the Black Sea, and another 21 the following morning.
Zelensky has repeated his call for a face-to-face meeting with Putin. “We in Ukraine have repeatedly said that finding real solutions can be truly effective at the level of leaders. It is necessary to determine the timing for such a format and the range of issues to be addressed,” he wrote on social media.
He said he had spoken with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and officials from France and Italy, adding, “There will also be communication at the level of national security advisors. The main thing is for Russia, which started this war, to take real steps to end its aggression.”
“Everyone can clearly see Putin’s tactics. He fears sanctions and is doing everything to bail on them. He wants to exchange a pause in the war, in the killings, for the legalisation of the occupation of our land,” Zelensky said.
He warned that Moscow’s ambitions would not end with one deal. “We will not allow this second attempt to partition Ukraine. Knowing Russia, where there is a second, there will be a third. That is why we stand firm on clear Ukrainian positions. We must end the war with a dignified peace, based on a clear and reliable security architecture,” he added.
Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska
The planned summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is set for 15 August in Alaska. It will be the first meeting between sitting US and Russian leaders since Biden and Putin met in Geneva in 2021.
Trump said the talks could include “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both” Ukraine and Russia, telling reporters at the White House, “We’re going to get some back, and we’re going to get some switched.” He did not explain which areas might be involved. As Ukraine holds no Russian territory, any exchange would mean Kyiv giving up land now under Russian control.
Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov called the choice of Alaska “entirely logical” given its position between the two countries.
Kyiv demands a seat at the table
Zelensky has warned that decisions made without Ukraine “are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work.”
He stressed that peace must not come through delay. “What is needed now is not a pause in the killings, but a real, lasting peace. Not a ceasefire sometime in the future, in months, but immediately. The path to peace for Ukraine must be determined together with Ukraine – this is fundamental.”
The White House is considering whether to invite Zelensky to Alaska. “It’s being discussed,” said one person familiar with the talks. A senior US official said it was “absolutely” possible, though it is unclear if Zelensky and Putin would meet directly.
Russia-Ukraine war so far
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 after a referendum not recognised by Ukraine and most of the international community. In 2022, it claimed four more regions – Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson – following similar votes. Moscow has demanded Kyiv withdraw its forces from these areas.
According to RT, Putin’s latest proposal includes retaining control of these territories as part of a settlement. Zelensky responded, “Now Putin wants to be forgiven for seizing the south of our Kherson region, Zaporozhye, the entire territory of Lugansk region, Donetsk region, and Crimea. We will not allow Russia to make this second attempt to divide Ukraine.”
Even as talks are discussed, the conflict continues. On Saturday, a Russian drone strike on a minibus in Kherson’s suburbs killed two people and injured 16, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. In Zaporizhzhia, another drone attack on a car killed two more, according to governor Ivan Fedorov.
Russia’s defence ministry said its air defences destroyed 97 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russia and the Black Sea, and another 21 the following morning.
Zelensky has repeated his call for a face-to-face meeting with Putin. “We in Ukraine have repeatedly said that finding real solutions can be truly effective at the level of leaders. It is necessary to determine the timing for such a format and the range of issues to be addressed,” he wrote on social media.
He said he had spoken with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and officials from France and Italy, adding, “There will also be communication at the level of national security advisors. The main thing is for Russia, which started this war, to take real steps to end its aggression.”
You may also like
Former Chadian PM sentenced to 20 years in prison
It's Been An Amazing Experience So Far, Says Sawyer On NZ Camp In Chennai Ahead Of WC
Watch: PM Modi launches three Vande Bharat Express trains, yellow line of Bengaluru Metro; key details
Liverpool midfielder agrees to quit Reds for Newcastle amid Alexander Isak transfer row
US: 5-Year-Old Girl Among 6 Injured In Baltimore Mass Shooting
