Ukraine won't cede land, Zelensky says ahead of Trump-Putin meeting
3 Min Read
The Ukrainian president says Kiev will not cede land to "occupiers" after Trump announced plans to meet Vladimir Putin for Ukraine–Russia peace talks.
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In this June 28, 2019, photo, US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan (AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that "Ukrainians will not give their land to occupiers," responding to Donald Trump's suggestion that ending the war might involve "some swapping of territories," ahead of a planned meeting with Vladimir Putin next week.
The Ukrainian president stated that Kiev was prepared for genuine solutions that could secure peace but emphasized that any agreements made without Ukraine would undermine it, saying, "Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing," while also asserting that the war "cannot be ended without us, without Ukraine."
Trump revealed his intention to meet with the Russian president next Friday in Alaska, announcing the location in a short post on his Truth Social platform, while Russian state media agency Tass confirmed both the date and meeting place by citing Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
Russia, Ukraine could swap land
The US president added that territorial adjustments would likely occur in a way that benefits both Ukraine and Russia, mentioning that the matter would be addressed in upcoming discussions, though he provided no additional specifics.
Bloomberg reported on Friday that the potential agreement might formalize some of Putin's territorial acquisitions in Ukraine, effectively locking the current frontlines in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, despite Putin having declared full annexation of four Ukrainian regions, while Ukrainian forces still maintain control over significant portions of that territory.
Bloomberg further reported that US and Russian officials were negotiating an agreement where Russia would cease its military advances in return for Ukraine making territorial concessions, a proposal that would carry significant political sensitivity within Ukraine.
Poland hints at potential 'freeze'
Trump's remarks followed statements by Poland's prime minister suggesting a potential conflict "freeze" might be nearing, after the Polish leader's discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has recently engaged in dialogue with both Trump and various European leaders.
“There are certain signals, and we also have an intuition, that perhaps a freeze in the conflict, I don’t want to say the end, but a freeze in the conflict, is closer than it is further away,” Tusk stated at a news conference, adding, “There are hopes for this.”
According to Reuters, Tusk reported that Zelensky remained "very cautious but optimistic" about the potential ceasefire while also noting Ukraine's strong desire for Poland and other European nations to be actively involved in both ceasefire preparations and the eventual peace negotiations.
Trump has repeatedly stated his willingness to hold unconditional direct talks with Putin, even proposing face-to-face negotiations between the Russian leader and Zelensky, raising concerns that Ukraine could be excluded from discussions shaping a possible ceasefire agreement.
In response, Zelensky has engaged in discussions with key European leaders such as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, who serve as important channels to Trump.
