Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that his country will not cede territory to Russia and called for working towards a “dignified peace”. His statements came hours after former US President Donald Trump suggested that a potential peace agreement could involve a territorial exchange that “benefits both parties”.
PUBLICIDAD
“The Ukrainians will not hand over their land to the occupier,” stated Zelensky, emphasizing that “decisions cannot be made against us, decisions cannot be made without Ukraine.” According to the president, a resolution without the participation of Kiev would be “a decision against peace” and would not yield results.
PUBLICIDAD
The Ukrainian leader insisted that the war, which began over three years ago on Vladimir Putin’s orders, “cannot end without us, without Ukraine.” He also stated that his government is willing to make “real decisions that can bring peace,” as long as it is a “dignified peace.”
The U.S. President, Donald Trump, and the leader of the Russian regime, Vladimir Putin, will meet in Alaska, near Russia, on August 15, to try to end the conflict, despite multiple warnings from Ukraine and Europe that Kiev must be part of the negotiations. Zelenski, in fact, argues for the need for Europe to also be at the table.
“May the Russians not deceive anyone once again”
During the day, the Ukrainian president has held a series of conversations with his closest allies, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Through X (Twitter), Zelenski highlighted that the Europeans “are willing to make the most productive efforts for a real peace”.
“It is truly important that the Russians do not manage to deceive anyone once again. We all need a genuine end to the war and reliable security foundations for Ukraine and other European nations,” Zelensky stated. “All our steps must bring us closer to a real end of the war, not a reconfiguration. And our joint decisions with our partners must serve our common security,” he emphasized.
“The Russians still refuse to stop the massacres, they continue to invest in the war and keep pushing the idea of ‘exchanging’ Ukrainian territory for Ukrainian territory, with consequences that only guarantee a more favorable position for Russia to resume the war,” the president stated. So far, Putin has resisted multiple calls from the United States, Europe, and Ukraine to declare a ceasefire.