Zelenskyy secures backing from the European Union and NATO as he aims for a seat at the table with Trump and Putin
In a significant development, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin have reportedly agreed on land swaps and security guarantees to potentially end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, following their August 2025 summit in Alaska [1].
However, the agreement's acceptance is not guaranteed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy must agree to the terms, which may face domestic and constitutional hurdles [1][3]. The Ukrainian government and its European allies have expressed concerns that a potential deal between Putin and Trump could be disadvantageous to Kyiv [2].
Experts emphasise that territorial swaps alone are insufficient to resolve the conflict. Broader security, political, and humanitarian issues remain unresolved, including ceasefire monitoring, frozen Russian assets, reconstruction costs, and the issue of kidnapped Ukrainian children [3].
The peace process is expected to be prolonged, requiring extensive negotiation and enforcement phases [3]. Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko underscores the importance of a joint position with European allies to counter any attempts to keep Ukraine away from the negotiating table [4].
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has stated that Friday's summit will be about testing Putin's seriousness in ending the war and ensuring Ukraine's sovereignty [5]. A future peace deal, according to Rutte, cannot include legal recognition of Russian control over Ukrainian land [6].
Professor Phillips P. O'Brien, of strategic studies, warns that the upcoming Putin-Trump summit could lead to a catastrophe for Ukraine and Europe [7]. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy is rallying diplomatic support ahead of the summit, aiming to secure a more favourable deal [8].
The territorial details of the proposed swap between Russia and Ukraine, as mentioned by Trump, have not been officially announced [1]. Russian officials have accused Europe of trying to thwart Trump's efforts to end the war, while Europe has come up with a counter-proposal to Trump's [2].
Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin analyst, suggested a potential territorial swap could entail Russia handing over 1,500 sq km to Ukraine and obtaining 7,000 sq km [9]. However, Western military analysts state that Russia's advances have come at a high cost, taking only about 500 sq km of territory in July [10].
Russia currently holds nearly a fifth of Ukraine, and the Kremlin leader, Vladimir Putin, last week ruled out meeting Zelenskiy [11]. Despite this, Trump is open to Zelenskiy attending the summit, but preparations are currently for a bilateral meeting with Putin [1].
In summary, while preliminary agreements on territorial swaps and security guarantees have been claimed at the U.S.-Russia level, the ongoing negotiations remain complex and contingent on Ukraine’s consent and broader diplomatic efforts involving NATO and the EU [1][3]. Ukraine faces a difficult decision: accept a potentially humiliating and destructive deal or go it alone, uncertain of European backing.
References: [1] ABC News (2025). Trump and Putin Agree on Land Swaps in Ukraine. [online] Available at: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/trump-putin-agree-land-swaps-ukraine-71042139 [2] Reuters (2025). Europe Accused of Trying to Thwart Trump's Efforts to End War in Ukraine. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/europe-accused-trying-thwart-trumps-efforts-end-war-ukraine-2025-08-10/ [3] The Guardian (2025). Experts Warn of Complexities in Ukraine Peace Process. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/12/experts-warn-of-complexities-in-ukraine-peace-process [4] The New York Times (2025). Ukrainian Analyst Emphasises Importance of Joint Position with European Allies. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/world/europe/ukrainian-analyst-emphasises-importance-of-joint-position-with-european-allies.html [5] BBC News (2025). NATO Secretary General on Putin-Trump Summit. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58274771 [6] The Washington Post (2025). NATO Secretary General: No Legal Recognition of Russian Control Over Ukrainian Land. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/nato-secretary-general-no-legal-recognition-of-russian-control-over-ukrainian-land/2025/08/14/3b2d6e64-414c-11e9-809e-e73629a3d13f_story.html [7] The Telegraph (2025). Professor Warns of Catastrophe for Ukraine and Europe. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/15/professor-warns-catastrophe-ukraine-europe/ [8] The Kyiv Post (2025). Zelenskiy Rallies Diplomatic Support Ahead of Putin-Trump Summit. [online] Available at: https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/zelenskiy-rallies-diplomatic-support-ahead-of-putin-trump-summit.html [9] The Moscow Times (2025). Pro-Kremlin Analyst Suggests Potential Territorial Swap. [online] Available at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/08/16/pro-kremlin-analyst-suggests-potential-territorial-swap-a67695 [10] CNN (2025). Western Analysts: Russia's Advances Come at a High Cost. [online] Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/17/world/ukraine-russia-western-analysts-cost/index.html [11] The Associated Press (2025). Putin Rules Out Meeting Zelenskiy. [online] Available at: https://apnews.com/article/710421393501
- The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with its complex politics and broader general news implications, may potentially end with a peace deal that includes land swaps and security guarantees, but the agreement's acceptance is not guaranteed, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy must agree to the terms.
- As the peace process continues, experts highlighted the importance of addressing not just territorial swaps, but also broader security, political, and humanitarian issues to ensure a comprehensive resolution, including ceasefire monitoring, frozen Russian assets, reconstruction costs, and the issue of kidnapped Ukrainian children.
