Zelensky Rules Out Ceding Donbas Despite New Russian Gains

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly stated that Ukraine will reject any Russian proposal to give up the Donbas region in exchange for a ceasefire. He warned that ceding the territory could be used as a launchpad for future attacks. This strong declaration comes just before a key meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Zelensky's stance is in direct response to comments from Trump, who has suggested that a peace deal would involve a "land swap." It is widely believed that one of Putin's demands is for Kyiv to relinquish control of the remaining areas it holds in the Donbas. Meanwhile, Russian forces have continued their summer offensive, making a sudden advance of 10 kilometers (six miles) near the eastern town of Dobropillia in a short period of time.

The Ukrainian President downplayed the significance of the Russian advance, suggesting it was part of a "media stunt" by Moscow to create a narrative that "Russia is advancing, while Ukraine is losing" ahead of the Trump-Putin meeting. Since 2014, Russia has partially occupied the Donbas region, which includes the eastern territories of Luhansk and Donetsk. Russia now controls almost all of Luhansk and about 70 percent of Donetsk, and almost 20% of Ukrainian territory overall. However, Zelensky has reiterated that Ukraine will not "gift our land to the occupier," citing the country’s constitution, which requires a referendum for any changes to its territory.

Alaska Summit: Ukrainian Skepticism and Diplomatic Efforts

The upcoming summit in Anchorage, Alaska, remains shrouded in mystery, with no official details released about Putin's demands. The White House has described the talks as a "listening exercise" for Trump, who hopes that sitting down with Putin will give him a "better sense of how to end this war." However, Kyiv’s exclusion from the summit has caused deep concern for Zelensky, who remarked, "I don't know what they will talk about without us," and insisted that any agreements made without Ukraine's participation would be "just ink on paper."

While avoiding direct criticism of Trump, Zelensky expressed his clear frustration at being sidelined. He suggested that the choice of Alaska as the summit's location was a "personal victory" for Putin, as it helps break his international isolation. Zelensky is scheduled to join a virtual meeting with Trump, EU leaders, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. The goal of this meeting is to urge Trump not to be swayed by Putin's demands during the hastily arranged summit.