Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Saturday that Kyiv will not surrender any territory to Russia, hours after Washington and Moscow confirmed plans for an August 15 summit in Alaska aimed at ending the three-year war. The meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will proceed despite objections from Ukraine and European allies that Kyiv must be included in any negotiations.
Announcing the summit, Trump said there could be “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both” Ukraine and Russia, but did not elaborate. Zelensky responded bluntly: “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier… Any decisions without Ukraine are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing.” He insisted the war “cannot be ended without us” and called for a “dignified peace.”
The Alaska summit would mark the first meeting between a sitting U.S. and Russian president since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in 2021. It is also the closest U.S. territory to Russia, a choice the Kremlin called “logical” given shared Arctic and economic interests. Moscow has invited Trump to make a reciprocal visit afterward.
Putin, who has ruled out direct talks with Zelensky, has continued military operations along the 600-mile frontline. Overnight, Russia and Ukraine exchanged drone strikes, and in Kherson a civilian bus was hit, killing two and injuring six.
Trump has spent his first months in office pushing for a peace deal, imposing tariffs on India for buying Russian oil and threatening similar measures against China. However, three rounds of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine this year have failed to produce results.
Zelensky continues to press for a three-way summit, arguing that only direct talks with Putin can bring lasting peace.
