President Volodymyr Zelensky stated Ukraine would reject any Russian offer to give up the Donbas region for a ceasefire, warning it could be used for future attacks. This statement came before a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Trump insisted a peace deal would involve territory swaps, potentially allowing Russia to take the entire Donbas and retain Crimea.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continued their offensive, advancing near Dobropillia in eastern Ukraine. Zelensky acknowledged the advance but pledged Kyiv would counter the attacking units.
No official demands from Putin have been disclosed ahead of his meeting with Trump in Anchorage. The Donbas, comprising Luhansk and Donetsk, has partially been under Russian control since 2014. Moscow holds most of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk. Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s refusal to abandon the Donbas, cautioning that withdrawing would enable Russian offensives.
In his Tuesday night address, Zelensky also mentioned new Russian offensives planned for Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlov. Last week, Trump’s comments about territory swaps worrying Kyiv and Europe suggested Moscow might attempt to redraw Ukraine’s borders.
The White House described the Alaska talks as a “listening exercise,” highlighting that Trump and Putin meeting directly could offer insights into ending the conflict. Trump characterized the summit as a “feel-out meeting” to manage expectations, previously optimistic about the prospect of advancing peace.
Zelensky doubted the talks would favor Kyiv, as Ukraine is excluded from the summit. He refrained from criticizing Trump but expressed frustration, labeling Alaska’s location as a “personal victory” for Putin, signaling the end of his isolation. On Wednesday, Zelensky will join a virtual meeting with Trump, EU leaders, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and NATO Chief Mark Rutte. Participants aim to persuade Trump to resist Putin’s influence during the upcoming summit.