Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strongly rejected any proposals that could involve territorial exchanges with Russia, warning that such arrangements would amount to legitimizing the occupation of Ukrainian land. His comments come ahead of the planned August 15 meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where a potential peace deal — possibly including land swaps — is expected to be discussed.
In a video message on Saturday, Zelenskyy accused Putin of attempting to “gain territorial spoils for the second time,” referencing the 2014 annexation of Crimea. “Everyone can clearly see Putin’s tactics. He fears sanctions and wants to exchange a pause in the war for the legalization of the occupation of our land. We will not allow his second attempt,” he said.
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine supports all credible peace efforts but insisted that no decisions should be made without Kyiv’s involvement. “Any decisions made without Ukraine are decisions against peace. They will never work. We must end the war with a dignified peace, based on a reliable security architecture,” he said.
Trump, announcing the Alaska summit on Friday, hinted at possible territorial adjustments, saying, “We’re going to get some back, and we’re going to get some switched.” He did not specify which territories could be exchanged, but reports suggest that any such swap would involve Ukraine ceding land currently under Russian control in exchange for other areas — an idea Kyiv firmly rejects.
The Kremlin has said the talks will focus on options for a long-term settlement to the conflict. Putin’s adviser Yuri Ushakov described Alaska as a “logical” location for the high-profile meeting.
Meanwhile, the fighting continues on the ground. Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian drone strike on a minibus near Kherson killed two people and injured 16. In the Zaporizhzhia region, another drone attack on a car claimed two more lives. Russia’s defence ministry said its air defences destroyed 97 Ukrainian drones overnight and an additional 21 on Saturday morning over Russia and the Black Sea.
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