KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed strong opposition to the upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled for Friday in Alaska. Zelenskyy warned that any peace deal that excludes Ukraine will result in "dead solutions" and called for Ukraine's involvement in any discussions regarding its future.
Trump had indicated a willingness to meet Putin without requiring a meeting with Zelenskyy, raising concerns in Ukraine that it could be sidelined in peace negotiations regarding the ongoing conflict. In a statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine’s territorial integrity must remain non-negotiable, asserting that lasting peace is contingent upon Ukraine having an active voice in discussions.
Zelenskyy stated, "Ukraine will not give Russia any awards for what it has done," highlighting that Ukrainians would not relinquish their land to an occupying power. He voiced skepticism regarding decisions made without Ukrainian input, framing them as contrary to the pursuit of peace and asserting that such resolutions would ultimately fail.
Ukrainian officials have privately indicated that while they are open to a peace deal, it might recognize the reality that regaining lost territories through military means is unlikely. The ambitions for the Trump-Putin summit include discussions aimed at ending the war that has gripped the region since Russia's initial invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties.
In comments made prior to confirming the details of the summit, Trump proposed that discussions might involve "some swapping of territories," although no specifics were provided. Analysts fear that Russia may offer to relinquish some territories it controls outside the four regions it claims to annex. Trump has indicated that his meeting with Putin will precede any discussions involving Zelenskyy, diverging from initial expectations that such talks would occur in a neutral location.
Critics have argued that hosting Putin on U.S. soil could lend legitimacy to the Russian leader, undermining previous efforts to ostracize him due to his actions in Ukraine. Trump's tensions with Putin have escalated as he has become increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress on ending hostilities. Recently, he imposed an ultimatum on Russia to cease attacks or face additional sanctions and tariffs on countries that continue to purchase Russian oil.
However, the White House has not clarified its stance on potential sanctions following the announcement of the Trump-Putin meeting. Prior to this, Trump's attempts to pressure Russia into a cessation of hostilities had yielded little progress, with Russian advancements continuing while Ukrainian cities faced relentless bombardment.
In related developments, violence continues to escalate in Ukraine. Recently, a Russian drone strike in the Kherson suburbs resulted in two fatalities and 16 injuries. Additionally, a separate drone attack in the Zaporizhzhia region claimed two lives. Ukraine’s air force reported successfully intercepting 16 out of 47 drones launched by Russia overnight, while the Russian Defense Ministry claimed it shot down 21 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and the Black Sea.
