Ahead of the planned U.S.–Russia summit in Alaska on August 15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reaffirmed a firm stance: “Ukraine will not surrender any land in exchange for peace.”
On August 9, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss ending the Russia–Ukraine conflict. Trump revealed that Washington is considering a “territory swap” plan — reclaiming certain areas while conceding others — describing it as “complicated” but potentially beneficial for both sides.
According to CNN, Trump emphasized that this proposal would be discussed “in the near future” and urged Zelensky to “achieve what is necessary” to move closer to a peace deal. However, the idea has been met with a strong rebuff from Kyiv. Zelensky declared: “Ukrainians will not give up land” and “will not reward Russia for what it has done.”
European leaders said the plan discussed by Putin with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, during his visit to Moscow includes granting Russia full control over the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.
On the same day, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy co-hosted a summit in the UK with Ukraine’s European allies. A U.S. official said the meeting “made significant progress”, while Zelensky called it “constructive” and stressed that a peace roadmap “must be determined with and only with Ukraine’s participation.” He warned that any decision made without Ukraine’s involvement would be a “dead decision” and “will never take effect.”
Alaska — the chosen venue for the U.S.–Russia summit — carries notable symbolic significance, as it was once Russian territory before being sold to the U.S. in 1867. Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov described the choice of Alaska as “completely logical.”
Despite diplomatic efforts, the fighting remains intense. In Kherson, a Russian drone strike on a minibus killed two people and injured sixteen others. Ukraine’s Air Force reported intercepting 16 of 47 Russian drones, while Moscow claimed to have shot down 97 Ukrainian UAVs.
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