PresidentZelensky issues presummit cautionary statement emphasizing the significance of including Ukraine in any decisions with Trump and Putin - Trump-Putin meeting prelude: Zelensky issues caution against negotiations excluding Ukraine
In a surprising turn of events, former U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed a proposal for a territorial land swap between Russia and Ukraine during the upcoming Trump-Putin summit. This plan, if implemented, would potentially allow Russia to gain control over some of Ukraine's most fertile, resource-rich regions containing lithium, coal, gas, and other critical minerals.
The proposed swap has sparked controversy, with Ukraine firmly rejecting any proposal that would permit Russia to retain control over the occupied territories. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy views the regions under Russian control as sovereign Ukrainian land, and maintaining them under Russia would be unacceptable to Kyiv.
On the other hand, Russia, currently occupying about one-fifth of Ukraine's territory, mainly in eastern and southeastern areas like Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, as well as Crimea (annexed in 2014), has not yet publicly stated its explicit stance on the land swap proposal. However, the strategic and resource-rich territorial acquisitions from the conflict suggest that Moscow would likely be interested in retaining these areas.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has taken a heavy toll on the country's agriculture sector, which was a significant part of its economy pre-war (about 11% of GDP, employing 2.5 million people). The continuation of Russian control threatens Ukraine's economy and global food security, considering disrupted grain exports and damage to its agricultural sector.
The upcoming summit between Trump and Putin is scheduled for August 15 in the U.S. state of Alaska. Germany will participate at the consultant level in the meeting. Meanwhile, the fighting in Ukraine continues, with the Russian army reportedly capturing another village in the Donetsk region on Saturday. Four people have been reported killed in Russian attacks in Donetsk and the Cherson region.
Ukraine has ordered the evacuation of families with children from around 20 settlements in the eastern part of the country due to the ongoing Russian offensive. Zelensky has demanded "clear steps" to end the Russian invasion and emphasized the need for "maximum coordination" between Ukraine and its partners.
During his campaign, Trump promised to end the Ukraine war "in 24 hours." However, the war continues, and the two presidents are expected to discuss possibilities for a long-term peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis.
Western government representatives, including British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and U.S. Vice President JD Vance, are scheduled to meet on Saturday in the UK to discuss progress towards a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine. Lammy and Vance have already held bilateral talks in the UK, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump mentioned the possibility of a "land swap" between Ukraine and Russia, but stated that it would be discussed later or tomorrow. Moscow, however, demands the cession of four regions partially occupied by Russian troops as a precondition for a possible ceasefire: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, as well as the 2014-annexed Crimea. Additionally, Kyiv should abandon western weapons deliveries and any potential NATO membership.
Trump has spoken to his Russian counterpart several times since his re-election to the White House in January. The Kremlin has confirmed the meeting and invited Trump to visit Russia afterwards. Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin advisor, described the choice of venue as logical due to Russia and the USA being close neighbors. The last meeting between Trump and Putin was in 2019. Putin last set foot in the USA in 2015.
[1] Source: The Washington Post, BBC News, The New York Times, and CNN.
- Amid the upcoming Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, the proposal for a territorial land swap between Ukraine and Russia, particularly concerning the regions of Donetsk and Crimea, remains a contentious issue in the general news and politics, with both parties holding firm to their respective positions.
- In light of the ongoing fighting in areas like Donetsk and the Cherson region, where civilians have been reported killed and families have been ordered to evacuate, David Lammy and JD Vance, along with other Western government representatives, will discuss progress towards a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of a peaceful solution to the crisis before the possible meeting between Trump and Putin.
