Zelensky: Kyiv won’t give up land

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly ruled out ceding any territory to Russia, issuing the statement just hours after Washington and Moscow confirmed they would hold a high-level summit aimed at ending the war. The meeting, scheduled for August 15 in Alaska, will bring together U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to resolve the three-year conflict.

Trump, announcing the summit on Friday, suggested there could be “swapping of territories to the betterment of both” nations, without giving specifics. Zelensky swiftly responded on social media, declaring, “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier” and warning that any agreement made without Ukraine’s participation would be “against peace” and yield no meaningful results.

Ukraine’s Exclusion and Ongoing Stalemate

Kyiv has repeatedly pushed to be included in any negotiations, insisting that a direct meeting between Zelensky and Putin is essential for genuine progress. Three rounds of talks between Ukraine and Russia earlier this year ended without a breakthrough, and both sides remain entrenched. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, tens of thousands have been killed and millions displaced, with Moscow resisting calls for a ceasefire from Ukraine, the U.S., and European allies.

Zelensky has said Ukraine is prepared for “real decisions that can bring peace,” but only on terms that ensure what he calls a “dignified peace.” Putin, in contrast, has ruled out talks with the Ukrainian leader at this stage, insisting such a meeting would only take place during a final phase of negotiations.

Alaska Chosen as Neutral Ground

The Alaska summit will be the first face-to-face meeting between a sitting U.S. and Russian president since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in 2021. The Kremlin described the location as “logical” due to the state’s proximity to both nations and overlapping economic interests. Zelensky, however, noted the choice placed the talks “very far away from this war, which is raging on our land, against our people.”

Moscow has extended an invitation for Trump to make a reciprocal visit to Russia in the future. The two leaders last met in person at the 2019 G20 summit in Japan during Trump’s first term and have held several phone conversations since his return to office in January.

Diplomatic Moves and Escalating Frontline Violence

In the run-up to the summit, Putin has been consulting with key allies, including China’s Xi Jinping and India’s Narendra Modi. Trump, meanwhile, has used economic measures—such as tariffs on Indian oil imports from Russia—to pressure Moscow into talks, while also warning China of possible similar measures.

Despite these diplomatic maneuvers, fighting on the ground remains intense. Overnight on Saturday, both Russia and Ukraine launched waves of drone strikes. In the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, a civilian bus was struck, killing two people and injuring six others, underscoring the ongoing toll of the conflict even as world leaders prepare for discussions thousands of kilometers away.