Ukrainian President Zelensky has firmly stated that Ukraine will reject any Russian offer of a ceasefire in exchange for the coveted Donbas region in exchange for a ceasefire.
Zelensky says this will only fuel Russian attacks in the near future, and that the promise of peace is an illusion. He thinks the Donbas region as it is is a barrier protecting the rest of Ukraine from Russian attack.
The Donbas, made up of the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, has been partly occupied by Russia since 2014. Now, Moscow holds almost all of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk. That means that Russia currently controls just under 20% of Ukrainian territory.
On Friday, August 15, Zelensky, Trump, and Putin will meet in Anchorage, Alaska — a decision which Zelensky claims gives Putin the upper hand from the get-go. He thinks all talks will lead to “dead decisions”.
While calling it a “feel-out meeting”, Trump seems to side with Putin, openly stating said any peace deal would mean “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both”. Zelensky responded by noting that Ukraine’s constitution involves a referendum before a change in territory.
As this bickering has continued, Russia’s troops have continued their summer offensive into Ukraine, making a sudden thrust near the eastern town of Dobropillia and advancing 10km rapidly. Moscow is now preparing new offensives on three parts of the front: Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk and Novopavlov areas, says Zelensky.
Today, Wednesday, Zelensky will have a Zoom meeting with Donald Trump, EU leaders, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Nato chief Mark Rutte — all of whom are said to put pressure on Trump not to be persuaded by Putin.
Russia preparing for new offensive after Trump meeting, Zelensky says
