During Trump-Putin meeting, Zelenskyy issues caution against decisions disregarding Ukraine - Prior to Trump-Putin meeting: Zelensky issues caution against decisions disregarding Ukraine
In an upcoming meeting, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to discuss possibilities for a long-term peaceful solution to the ongoing Ukraine crisis. The meeting, scheduled for August 15 in the US state of Alaska, has sparked discussions about the potential for a "land swap" between Ukraine and Russia as part of a peace deal.
According to reports, Trump mentioned the possibility of a land swap during the summit, suggesting that territorial concessions might be necessary for a deal. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly rejected any peace plan involving ceding land to Russia. Ukraine and its European allies have expressed concern that such territorial concessions could be imposed without their input.
The proposed land swap would involve reciprocal territorial concessions between Ukraine and Russia, potentially leading to the loss of valuable Ukrainian territory, including fertile and resource-rich areas. This element has been criticized, as it could have significant political and economic implications for Ukraine.
As the conflict continues, regional authorities in Donetsk and Cherson have reported casualties. On Saturday, four people were killed in Russian attacks in Donetsk, with two deaths reported from the Cherson region. Moreover, Ukraine has ordered the evacuation of families with children from nearly 20 settlements in the eastern part of the country, facing the Russian offensive.
The Kremlin has confirmed the meeting and invited Trump to visit Russia afterwards. Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin advisor, described the choice of the negotiating venue as logical. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has emphasized the importance of ensuring that Russia does not deceive anyone again, as he spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Since his re-election to the White House in January, Trump has spoken to his Russian counterpart several times. The last meeting between the two leaders was in 2019 on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Japan. Western government representatives were due to meet in the UK on Saturday to prepare for the upcoming summit. Germany will participate in the meeting at the level of advisors.
The office of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the meeting between Trump and Putin as a "significant forum" to discuss progress towards a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine. However, the outcome of the discussions remains uncertain, and the international community watches closely as the two leaders engage in dialogue.
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- Following the scheduled Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, JD Vance, David Lammy, and Keir Sturmer have expressed concerns about the potential implications of a proposed land swap, which could result in territorial concessions between Ukraine and Russia, on the political and economic landscape of Ukraine.
- In a recentinterview, Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin advisor, declared that the choice of the negotiating venue for the upcoming Trump-Putin summit was logical, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned against any potential deception by Russia during negotiations, emphasizing the need for a long-term peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis.
