Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing for a new offensive in Ukraine, rather than a ceasefire, despite their upcoming meeting in Alaska to discuss peace talks. According to Zelenskyy, reports from Ukrainian intelligence and military commanders indicate that Putin intends to present the meeting as “a personal victory and then continue acting exactly as before” in the war on Ukraine.
“He is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire or an end to the war,” Zelenskyy said in a video message. “There is no indication whatsoever that the Russians have received signals to prepare for a post-war situation.” Instead, the Russians are redeploying their troops and forces in ways that suggest preparations for new offensive operations. Ukraine’s military spokesperson for the southern front-line sector, Vladyslav Voloshyn, confirmed that Russia was moving some military units in the Zaporizhia region for further assaults.
Zelenskyy’s warnings come ahead of the scheduled meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump, where Trump suggested that Kyiv would have to cede land to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. However, Zelenskyy firmly rejected this proposal, stating that Ukraine will not surrender land to the occupier. “Russia refuses to stop the killings, and therefore, must not receive any rewards or benefits,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “Concessions do not persuade a killer,” he added.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also emphasized that a peace deal for Ukraine must involve Kyiv and not be imposed upon it. “Both leaders underscored that Ukraine’s future must be one of freedom, sovereignty, and self-determination,” a spokesperson for Starmer said. Zelenskyy also spoke with Canada’s Carney, telling him that the “Russians simply want to buy time, not end the war.” The situation on the battlefield and Russia’s strikes on civilian infrastructure and ordinary people prove this clearly, Zelenskyy said.
European leaders and Zelenskyy plan to speak with Trump in advance of his meeting with Putin, as fears mount that Washington may dictate unfavorable peace terms to Ukraine after the Alaska summit. The US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War said Moscow does not appear to be preparing the Russian public for accepting “a settlement short of a full victory in Ukraine.” This assessment is based on the lack of change in public Kremlin messaging, combined with ongoing speculation that Putin is looking to “outplay” the West.