Zelenskyy Rejects Russian Land Cession, Warns of New Offensives Ahead of Trump-Putin Summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly stated that Ukraine will not concede any territory to Russia in exchange for a ceasefire, fearing Moscow would use such gains as a springboard for future aggression. His comments come ahead of a highly anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where Trump is expected to mediate.

Zelenskyy expressed hope that Trump would act as an honest broker, dismissing the notion that Russia’s demands for territory were supported by the US leader. He also highlighted a lack of any Russian preparations for a ceasefire, even as reports indicate small Russian sabotage groups have penetrated Ukrainian defenses in eastern Donbas, advancing approximately six miles in three days. The Ukrainian president warned of impending Russian offensives across three sections of the frontline.

Speaking prior to the Trump-Putin summit and a virtual meeting with US and European leaders, Zelenskyy reiterated his belief that Putin seeks to dominate Ukraine and does not desire a sovereign nation. He cautioned against any US pressure on Ukraine to accept Russia’s demands for control over additional parts of Donbas following the Alaska summit, noting the requested territory spans approximately 90,000 square kilometers and is strategically vital as a heavily fortified area protecting Ukraine’s central cities.

Last week, Russia signaled a willingness to consider a ceasefire if Ukraine withdrew from areas of Donbas it still controls. Zelenskyy clarified that Russia was merely offering to halt further advances, not to withdraw, and that territorial swaps were not on the table. He stressed that Ukraine cannot abandon Donbas, as it serves as a critical buffer against future Russian offensives, and that no proposal has guaranteed an end to the war or prevented further Russian attempts to seize cities like Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv.

Zelenskyy proposed a ceasefire on current frontlines, a return of all prisoners of war and missing children, and only then a discussion about territory and security guarantees. While not attending the Alaska summit, the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin since 2018, he hopes it leads to a trilateral meeting involving himself, Trump, and Putin, despite Russia’s current reluctance to meet him. Zelenskyy also suggested Putin sought a diplomatic win and photo opportunities from the summit to project an image of Russian progress in the war, particularly to American media.

He acknowledged Russian groups had advanced about 10 kilometers in some areas of Donbas, albeit with limited equipment and significant casualties. Ukrainian military command reported Russia had concentrated around 110,000 troops in the sector, attempting to breach defenses with small infantry groups. Reserves have been deployed to stabilize the frontlines, though the Institute for the Study of War noted it was too early to classify the advances as an operational breakthrough. Zelenskyy stated Russia is incurring heavy casualties, estimated at 1,000 per day, while Ukraine’s casualties are significantly lower. A former Ukrainian officer, Bohdan Krotevych, attributed the breaches to a prioritization of assault forces over reinforcing defensive units, urging a focus on strengthening infantry and adopting a defensive strategy.

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