Zelensky rules out ceding Donbas region as Russians make fresh advance
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine would reject any Russian proposal to give up the Donbas region in exchange for a ceasefire and could be used as a jumpboard for future attacks.
Zelensky spoke before a meeting in Alaska on Friday between US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Trump said that any peace agreement would include a “a little change of regions”, and one of Putin’s demands is believed to have surrendered the parts of Donbas, whose Kyiv still controls.
Meanwhile, Russian troops continued their summer attacks, the Eastern Town Dobropillia made a sudden pushing and a short period of 10 km (six miles) progressed.
Zelensky admitted that the progress took place at a few points, but said Kiev would soon destroy the units involved in the attack.
While underestimating the progress of Russia, Moscow’s aim was to create a “specific field of information” before meeting Putin Trump, “Russia is moving forward, losing Ukraine”.
There was no official detail that demanded what Vladimir Putin met Donald Trump in Anchorage on Friday.
Donbas, which consists of the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, has been partially occupied by Russia since 2014.
Moscow is now holding almost all of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk, but Zelensky, who spoke to journalists on Tuesday, confirmed that Ukraine would reject the proposal to leave Donbas.
“If we withdraw from Donbas today – our fortifications, our land, the heights we control – we will openly open a bridge to the Russians to prepare an attack,” he said.
Zelensky insisted that the Ukrainians would not “give their land to the invader” and pointed out the constitution of the country that required a referendum before a change in his country.
Zelensky said he prepared new attacks for Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk and Novopavlov in three parts of Moscow at the address of Moscow every night.
Last week, Trump said, “Russia and Ukraine’s” regions of Ukraine would be a little change “. Spark concern in Kyiv and Europe Moscow may be allowed to forcibly redemine the borders of Ukraine.
Russia is currently controlling 20% of Ukraine territory.
On Tuesday, the White House said that Alaska talks would be a “listening exercise” for Trump and added it and added Putin to sit in the same room.
He follows Trump, which describes the summit as a “sensation meeting” on Monday, and reduces the expectations of the Friday’s meeting that Ukraine and Russia can get closer to peace.
When he announced the summit last week, Trump was positive, as the meeting could result in concrete steps towards peace.
“I think my bowel instinct really says we have a chance,” he said.
However, Ukraine President Zelensky expressed serious doubts that the negotiations could lead to a positive result for Kiev, who was excluded from the summit. Orum I don’t know what to talk about without us, dedi he said.
Zelensky stayed away from criticizing Trump, but recently disappointed to be sidel, and on Tuesday, Alaska’s choice as a place was a “personal victory” for Putin.
“It comes out of isolation, because they meet it on the US territory,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader said that any agreement that had previously had Kiev’s participation would mean “dead decisions”.
On Wednesday, Zelensky will attend a virtual meeting with Zelensky, Donald Trump, EU leaders, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and NATO chef Mark Rutte.
All parties will try to persuade Trump not to shake by Putin when the two meet at the hurried summit.
