Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the deliberate summit between U.S. President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that any peace deal excluding Kyiv would result in “useless options.”
In a press release posted to Telegram, Zelenskyy mentioned Ukraine’s territorial integrity, enshrined in its structure, have to be non-negotiable and emphasised that lasting peace should embody Ukraine’s voice on the desk.
Zelenskyy mentioned Ukraine “is not going to give Russia any awards for what it has finished” and that “Ukrainians is not going to give their land to the occupier.”
Concerning Ukrainian anxieties {that a} direct assembly between Mr. Trump and Putin may marginalize Kyiv and European pursuits, Zelenskyy mentioned: “Any selections which can be with out Ukraine are on the similar time selections towards peace. They won’t deliver something. These are useless selections. They may by no means work.”
Mr. Trump and Putin are planning to satisfy in Alaska on Friday, August 15 – a summit that’s seen as a possible breakthrough.
A senior White Home official advised CBS Information that planning for the summit is fluid and it’s nonetheless doable that Zelenskyy may find yourself being concerned not directly.
The White Home mentioned earlier this week that Mr. Trump is open to assembly along with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, however Mr. Trump urged Friday he could begin by assembly simply Putin. He advised reporters he plans to “begin off with Russia.” Mr. Trump additionally mentioned he believes “we now have a shot at” organizing a trilateral assembly with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders.
In his feedback to reporters, Mr. Trump additionally urged that any settlement would probably contain “some swapping of territories,” however he gave no particulars.
His announcement that he deliberate to host one in every of America’s adversaries on U.S. soil broke with expectations that they’d meet in a 3rd nation. The gesture offers Putin validation after the U.S. and its allies had lengthy sought to make him a pariah over his struggle towards Ukraine.
Ukrainian officers had beforehand advised the Related Press privately that Kyiv can be amenable to a peace deal that may de facto acknowledge Ukraine’s incapacity to regain misplaced territories militarily.
The summit can be the primary face-to-face assembly between Putin and an American chief since former President Joe Biden met along with his Russian counterpart in Switzerland in June 2021, eight months earlier than Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“It appears completely logical for our delegation to fly throughout the Bering Strait merely, and for such an vital and anticipated summit of the leaders of the 2 international locations to be held in Alaska,” Putin’s overseas affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, mentioned Saturday in a statement posted to the Kremlin’s information channel.
Such a summit could show pivotal in a struggle that started greater than three years in the past when Russia invaded its western neighbor and has led to tens of hundreds of deaths, though there is not any assure it’ll cease the combating since Moscow and Kyiv stay far aside on their circumstances for peace.
Two folks died and 16 have been wounded Saturday when a Russian drone hit a minibus within the suburbs of the Ukrainian metropolis of Kherson, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin mentioned. Two others died after a Russian drone struck their automotive within the Zaporizhzhia area, in line with regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov.
Ukraine’s air pressure mentioned Saturday it intercepted 16 of the 47 Russian drones launched in a single day, whereas 31 drones hit targets throughout 15 completely different areas. It additionally mentioned it shot down one of many two missiles Russia deployed.
In the meantime, Russia’s Protection Ministry mentioned its air defenses shot down 97 Ukrainian drones over Russia and the Black Sea in a single day into Saturday, and 21 extra on Saturday morning.
