KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday rejected the concept that his nation would hand over land to finish the conflict with Russia after U.S. President Donald Trump prompt a peace deal may embrace “some swapping of territories.”
Zelenskyy stated Ukraine “is not going to give Russia any awards for what it has completed” and that “Ukrainians is not going to give their land to the occupier.”
WATCH: Trump suggests ‘swapping’ Ukraine and Russia territories ahead of meeting with Putin
The remarks got here after Trump stated Friday that he would meet with Vladimir Putin even when the Russian chief wouldn’t meet with Zelenskyy. The Trump-Putin assembly, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, is seen as a possible breakthrough within the greater than three-year conflict.
Zelenskyy dismissed the deliberate summit, warning that any negotiations to finish Europe’s greatest battle since World Conflict II should embrace Kyiv.
“Any selections which can be with out Ukraine are on the similar time selections towards peace. They won’t convey something. These are useless selections. They are going to by no means work,” he stated.
In a press release posted to Telegram, Zelenskyy stated Ukraine’s territorial integrity, enshrined within the structure, have to be nonnegotiable, and emphasised that lasting peace should embrace Ukraine’s voice on the desk.
Ukrainian officers had beforehand advised The Related Press privately that Kyiv can be amenable to a peace deal that might de facto acknowledge Ukraine’s lack of ability to regain misplaced territories militarily.
The summit
The Trump-Putin assembly could show pivotal in a conflict that started when Russia invaded its western neighbor and has led to tens of hundreds of deaths, though there’s no assure it should cease the combating since Moscow and Kyiv stay far aside on their circumstances for peace.
“It appears solely logical for our delegation to fly throughout the Bering Strait merely, and for such an essential and anticipated summit of the leaders of the 2 nations to be held in Alaska,” Putin’s international affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, stated Saturday in a press release posted to the Kremlin’s information channel.
WATCH: Trump will meet with Putin in Alaska for talks on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine
In his feedback to reporters on the White Home Friday, Trump gave no particulars on the “swapping of territories.” Analysts, together with some near the Kremlin, have prompt that Russia may supply to surrender territory it controls exterior of the 4 areas it claims to have annexed.
Trump stated his assembly with Putin would come earlier than any sit-down dialogue involving Zelenskyy. His announcement that he deliberate to host certainly one of America’s adversaries on U.S. soil broke with expectations that they’d meet in a 3rd nation. The gesture provides Putin validation after the U.S. and its allies had lengthy sought to make him a pariah over his conflict towards Ukraine.
Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia on the Worldwide Institute for Strategic Research, advised the AP that the “symbology” of holding the summit in Alaska was clear, and that the placement “naturally favors Russia.”
“It’s simple to think about Putin making the purpose. … We as soon as had this territory and we gave it to you, subsequently Ukraine had this territory and now ought to give it to us,” he stated, referring to the 1867 transaction referred to as the Alaska Buy when Russia bought Alaska to the USA for $7.2 million.
Reactions in Kyiv
On the streets of Kyiv, reactions to the concept of Ukraine ceding territory to Russia ranged from skepticism to quiet resignation.
“It might not be capitulation, however it will be a loss,” stated Ihor Usatenko, a 67-year-old pensioner, who stated he would contemplate ceding territory “on situation for compensation and, probably, some reparations.”
Anastasia Yemelianova, 31, stated she was torn: “Truthfully, I’ve two solutions to that query. The primary is as an individual who loves her nation. I don’t wish to compromise inside myself,” she advised the AP. “However seeing all these deaths and realizing that my mom is now dwelling in Nikopol below shelling and my father is combating, I need all this to finish as quickly as attainable.”
Others, like Svitlana Dobrynska, whose son died combating, rejected outright concessions however supported halting fight to avoid wasting lives.
“We don’t have the chance to launch an offensive to recapture our territories,” the 57-year-old pensioner stated, “However to stop individuals from dying, we are able to merely cease army operations, signal some form of settlement, however not hand over our territories.”
Ultimatums and sanctions
Exasperated that Putin didn’t heed his calls to cease bombing Ukrainian cities, Trump had moved up an ultimatum to impose further sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs focusing on nations that purchase Russian oil if the Kremlin didn’t transfer towards a settlement.
The deadline was Friday. However the White Home didn’t reply questions that night about attainable sanctions after Trump introduced the assembly with Putin.
Earlier than Trump introduced the summit, his efforts to strain Russia into stopping the combating had delivered no progress. The Kremlin’s larger military is slowly advancing deeper into Ukraine at nice price in troops and armor whereas it relentlessly bombards Ukrainian cities.
Russia and Ukraine commerce assaults
On Saturday, two individuals died and 16 had been wounded when a Russian drone hit a minibus within the suburbs of the Ukrainian metropolis of Kherson, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin stated. Two others died after a Russian drone struck their automotive within the Zaporizhzhia area, in line with regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov.
Ukraine’s air pressure stated it intercepted 16 of the 47 Russian drones launched in a single day, whereas 31 drones hit targets throughout 15 totally different places. It additionally stated it shot down one of many two missiles Russia deployed.
Russia’s Protection Ministry stated its air defenses shot down 97 Ukrainian drones over Russia and the Black Sea in a single day and 21 extra Saturday morning.
Morton reported from London.
