Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks at a press convention as Denmark launches their EU presidency at Marselisborg Fort on July 3, 2025 in Aarhus, Denmark.
Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Photographs Europe
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Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Photographs Europe
Ukraine’s President Volodmyr Zelenskyy mentioned Saturday that his nation has no intention of gifting away its territory captured by Russia within the ongoing struggle.
“Ukrainians is not going to reward their land to the occupier,” Zelenskyy mentioned in a video posted on a number of social media websites, together with X. “We is not going to reward Russia for what it has perpetrated,” he added.
His remarks come the day after President Trump introduced he’ll maintain a summit with Russian chief Vladimir Putin in Alaska subsequent Friday.
Trump is looking for an finish to the struggle and steered Ukraine might need to surrender among the territory that has been captured by Russia.
“It’s totally difficult. However we will get some [territory] again, and we will get some switched,” Trump mentioned. “There will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of each, however we’ll be speaking about that both later, or tomorrow.”
Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov mentioned Saturday that the U.S. and Russian leaders would search a “long-term answer” to the struggle. Russia has made a number of calls for up to now that embody management of Ukrainian territory, limits on the dimensions of Ukraine’s future army, and ensures that Ukraine won’t ever be allowed to affix NATO.
Nevertheless, Ukraine is just not a part of the summit, and Zelenskyy mentioned no selections could be reached with out his nation’s involvement.
“The Ukrainian folks deserve peace. However all companions should perceive what a dignified peace is,” Zelenskyy mentioned. “This struggle should be dropped at an finish — and Russia should finish it. Russia began it and is dragging it out, ignoring all deadlines, and that’s the downside, not one thing else.”
Zelenskyy and different Ukrainian leaders have at all times insisted that their aim is to reclaim the entire territory that Russia has captured. Russia first invaded in 2014, after which launched a full-scale army operation in 2022.
But for greater than two years, the frontlines have barely modified. With extra troops and firepower, Russia is making incremental beneficial properties at a excessive price, however has not achieved any main breakthroughs. Ukraine has remained principally in defensive positions.
Russian forces management shut to twenty% of Ukraine’s territory within the east and south of the nation.
A sophisticated relationship
The Trump-Putin assembly comes amid an advanced relationship between between the 2 leaders over the previous a number of months.
Trump got here into workplace promising to rapidly finish the struggle, boasting that his ties with Putin would assist convey a couple of peace deal.
For months, Trump resisted placing stress on Putin, saying his aim was a peace settlement. However extra just lately, Trump’s posture has shifted as Russia escalated strikes in opposition to Ukraine. Trump has threatened more durable sanctions in opposition to Moscow, and this week he imposed further tariffs on India, a number one purchaser of Russian oil.
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin on Aug. 6 in Moscow, and afterward, Trump mentioned progress had been made.
The Ukrainians are deeply skeptical about Putin’s intentions. They imagine the Russian chief engages in talks to provide the looks that he needs a peace deal, however assume he is truly shopping for time to proceed the struggle.
Putin final met a U.S. president in 2021, when he sat down with President Joe Biden in Geneva. Trump final met Putin in 2019 on the sidelines of the G20 in Osaka, Japan.
