Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia is preparing for “new offensives” in Ukraine, in a warning ahead of peace talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska.
The Ukrainian president said his country’s intelligence service had found that Putin had no intention of ending the fighting, adding to doubts that a breakthrough can be achieved during Friday’s talks, which Zelensky has not been invited to.
“I am grateful to the leaders of Europe for their clear support of our independence, territorial integrity, and precisely such an active approach to diplomacy that can help end this war with a dignified peace,” the Ukrainian leader wrote on X Tuesday.
“We all support President Trump’s determination, and together we must shape positions that will not allow Russia to deceive the world once again. We see that the Russian army is not preparing to end the war. On the contrary, they are making movements that indicate preparations for new offensive operations.”
“In such circumstances, it is important that the unity of the world is not threatened. Issues related to the security of Ukraine and Europe are discussed by all of us together. Any decision must add to our joint security capabilities.”
“If Russia refuses to stop the killings, it must be held accountable. As long as they continue the war and occupation, all of us together must maintain our pressure.”
On Monday, US President Donald Trump lavished praise on Vladimir Putin ahead of their meeting in Alaska which the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not invited to.
Trump said he will try and set up a summit between the Ukrainian leader and Russian dictator afterwards, but only if he believes a deal is possible.
In a contradictory press conference, Mr Trump said he ‘got along very well’ with Putin saying the strongman saw him as ‘the apple of his eye’ before the invasion
He said Moscow’s decision to reach out to him and offer to meet in Alaska was ‘very respectful’ before once more appearing to blame Mr Zelensky for the war.
The US president said he was ‘bothered’ that the Ukrainian leader had said he would need constitutional approval for any ‘land swaps’ , claiming he didn’t need it ‘to go into war and kill everybody’.
In the free-wheeling press conference the US President said he would ‘try and get some territory back’ for Ukraine but warned he may also walk away and say, ‘this is not going to be settled’.
His comments are a throwback to his rhetoric from his first days in office where he repeated Kremlin talking points and exerted pressure on Kyiv, taking Moscow’s line.
Following the press conference, Mr Zelensky posted a summary of his meeting with Canadian PM Mark Carney where he warned ‘the Russians simply want to buy time, not end the war’.
