In a bid to strengthen Western support, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to engage in a crucial call with US President Donald Trump alongside European leaders. This initiative aims to ensure that Ukraine's sovereignty is firmly defended ahead of Trump's meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Anchorage on Friday.
During the online discussions, Zelensky and the EU leaders are expected to emphasize the importance of including Ukraine in any negotiations that could alter its borders, especially given Trump's earlier statements suggesting "some swapping of territories" as part of a peace deal. These remarks have raised alarms in Kyiv as they fear concessions regarding the occupied Donbas region could ignite further Russian aggression.
Russia's military offensive has seen continued hostilities, with advancements reported in eastern Ukraine, specifically around Dobropillia. Despite this, Zelensky remains resolute, asserting that any territorial compromises may only serve as a catalyst for more aggressive moves by Russia in the future.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Zelensky commented that Moscow aims to manipulate the narrative before the Trump-Putin summit, portraying Ukraine as a losing entity. He firmly rejected any proposal that would involve ceding parts of the Donbas—regions that have been partially under Russian control since 2014.
The complexities surrounding the upcoming summit include the fact that over 20% of Ukrainian territory is currently controlled by Russia, raising the stakes for the discussions. In recent statements, the White House dubbed the Anchorage meeting a "listening exercise" for Trump, reflecting a cautious approach to expectations of immediate progress toward peace.
As anticipation builds around the Trump-Putin summit, Zelensky has previously made clear that any agreements made without Ukraine's involvement would have no legitimacy, reiterating the irreplaceable value of Ukraine's territorial integrity. The outcome of this interaction with the US may significantly influence the ongoing conflict and the contours of future negotiations.
During the online discussions, Zelensky and the EU leaders are expected to emphasize the importance of including Ukraine in any negotiations that could alter its borders, especially given Trump's earlier statements suggesting "some swapping of territories" as part of a peace deal. These remarks have raised alarms in Kyiv as they fear concessions regarding the occupied Donbas region could ignite further Russian aggression.
Russia's military offensive has seen continued hostilities, with advancements reported in eastern Ukraine, specifically around Dobropillia. Despite this, Zelensky remains resolute, asserting that any territorial compromises may only serve as a catalyst for more aggressive moves by Russia in the future.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Zelensky commented that Moscow aims to manipulate the narrative before the Trump-Putin summit, portraying Ukraine as a losing entity. He firmly rejected any proposal that would involve ceding parts of the Donbas—regions that have been partially under Russian control since 2014.
The complexities surrounding the upcoming summit include the fact that over 20% of Ukrainian territory is currently controlled by Russia, raising the stakes for the discussions. In recent statements, the White House dubbed the Anchorage meeting a "listening exercise" for Trump, reflecting a cautious approach to expectations of immediate progress toward peace.
As anticipation builds around the Trump-Putin summit, Zelensky has previously made clear that any agreements made without Ukraine's involvement would have no legitimacy, reiterating the irreplaceable value of Ukraine's territorial integrity. The outcome of this interaction with the US may significantly influence the ongoing conflict and the contours of future negotiations.
