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, warning it could be used as a springboard for future attacks. This stance comes ahead of a crucial meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
Zelensky emphasized the strategic importance of the Donbas region, saying, “If we withdraw from the Donbas today – our fortifications, our terrain, the heights we control – we will clearly open a bridgehead for the Russians to prepare an offensive.” The Donbas region, comprising the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, has been partly occupied by Russia since 2014, with Moscow currently holding almost all of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk.
Meanwhile, Moscow’s troops have continued their summer offensive, making a sudden thrust near the eastern Ukrainian town of Dobropillia and advancing 10km in a short period. Zelensky admitted the advance had taken place in “several spots” but assured that Kyiv would soon destroy the units involved in the attack. He also warned of new Russian offensives on three parts of the front, including Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlov areas.
The upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin has sparked concern in Kyiv and across Europe, with Trump’s suggestion that any peace deal would involve “some swapping of territories” and could see Russia taking the entire eastern Donbas region and keeping Crimea. The White House described the Alaska talks as a “listening exercise” for Trump, aimed at gauging Putin’s willingness to compromise. Zelensky expressed doubts about the talks, saying, “I don’t know what they will talk about without us.” He also criticized the choice of Alaska as a location, calling it a “personal victory” for Putin, as it marks a significant diplomatic engagement with the Russian leader on US territory.
Zelensky is set to join a virtual meeting with Trump, EU leaders, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and NATO chief Mark Rutte, where all sides will attempt to convince Trump not to be swayed by Putin during the summit. The EU has emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s sovereignty, stating that “the people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future” and that Ukraine’s borders must not be changed by force.