Kyiv Refuses to Cede Territory as US-Russia Summit Confirmed, Says Zelensky

Ukraine will not relinquish any of its land to Russia in exchange for peace, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Saturday, following the announcement that Washington and Moscow have agreed to hold a summit in an effort to end the ongoing war.

Summit Details and Reactions

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are scheduled to meet in the US state of Alaska next Friday, in an attempt to resolve the three-year conflict. This development has come despite repeated warnings from Ukraine and European nations insisting that Kyiv must be included in any negotiations.

On Friday, President Trump stated there would be “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both” sides, though he did not provide further clarification.

In response, Zelensky took to social media, declaring:

“Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.”
“Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing.”

He emphasised that the conflict

“cannot be ended without us, without Ukraine.”

Diplomatic Efforts and Calls for Inclusive Negotiations

President Zelensky urged Ukraine’s allies to take definitive steps towards achieving a sustainable peace during a telephone conversation with Britain’s Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.

On Saturday, national security advisors from Kyiv’s allies — including the United States, European Union nations, and the United Kingdom — convened in Britain to coordinate their positions ahead of the Putin-Trump summit.

French President Emmanuel Macron, after speaking with Zelensky, Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, affirmed:

“The future of Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukrainians,” adding that Europe must also play a role in the negotiations.

UK Foreign Secretary Lammy welcomed several dignitaries, including US Vice President JD Vance, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, senior Zelensky aide Andriy Yermak, and European national security advisers.

On Saturday, Lammy posted on X (formerly Twitter):

“The UK’s support for Ukraine remains ironclad as we continue working towards a just and lasting peace.”

Later in his evening address, Zelensky stressed:

“There must be an honest end to this war, and it is up to Russia to end the war it started.”

Progress and Challenges in Peace TalksThus far, three rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine this year have failed to produce meaningful progress, with the positions of both sides remaining widely divergent.

President Putin has repeatedly resisted calls from the United States, Europe, and Kyiv for a ceasefire.

As a former KGB officer and Russian leader for over 25 years, Putin has dismissed the idea of talks with Zelensky at this stage.

Conversely, Ukraine’s leader continues to advocate for a three-way summit, arguing that a meeting with Putin is essential to progress peace efforts.

The Alaska Summit: Symbolism and Context

The summit is to be held in Alaska — a far-northern US state sold to America by Russia in 1867 — marking the first meeting between sitting US and Russian presidents since Joe Biden met Vladimir Putin in Geneva in June 2021.

Nine months after that meeting, Russia invaded Ukraine.

Zelensky remarked on the summit location:

“It is very far away from this war, which is raging on our land, against our people.”

The Kremlin described the venue choice as “logical,” citing Alaska’s proximity to the Arctic and its position as a border area where the two countries’ “economic interests intersect.”

Moscow has also extended an invitation to Trump for a reciprocal visit to Russia at a later date.

Trump and Putin last met in person at a G20 summit in Japan in 2019 during Trump’s first term. They have since spoken several times by telephone, though Trump has been unable to deliver on promises to broker peace in Ukraine.

Diplomatic Activity Ahead of the Summit

On Friday, Putin engaged in a series of calls with global allies, including leaders from Brazil, China, and India, in a diplomatic surge prior to the Alaska talks.

In a 40-minute telephone conversation on Saturday between Putin and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the latter reiterated support for dialogue and “the pursuit of a peaceful solution,” according to the Brazilian leader’s office.

Meanwhile, Trump has imposed additional tariffs on India in response to its purchase of Russian oil, aiming to pressure Moscow into negotiations. He has threatened to apply similar measures against China but has yet to do so.

This evolving diplomatic effort, set against the backdrop of a devastating and protracted war, underscores the complexities involved in reaching a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.