Ukrainian President Zelensky is speaking out against the reported outline of an agreement that will be discussed by President Trump and Russian President Putin at a summit later this week aimed at ending the war.
While no Russian or American officials have explained the broad outline of the deal, leaks to the media suggest Putin is demanding that Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region. Moscow’s forces control most of the region.
“I am not going to surrender my country because I have no right to do so,” Zelensky said on Tuesday. “If we leave Donbas today, our fortifications, our terrain, the heights we control, we will clearly open a bridgehead for the preparation of a Russian offensive.”
Under the agreement, Kiev would also recognize Russian control of the territory it holds in southern Ukraine. Previously, Putin called for Zelensky to cede the entire Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts.
Additionally, Ukraine would agree not to join NATO and give up weapons that can be used to attack Russia.
Trump has said that some “land swapping” will be needed to end the war, but has not detailed his proposal.
The Trump-Putin summit scheduled for Friday has caused concern among NATO members and Ukraine. European leaders are pressuring Trump to invite Zelensky to the meeting. “The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine,” leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Britain and Finland, and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz backed Zelensky’s demand that Ukraine not be forced to cede territory. “We cannot accept in any case that territorial questions are discussed or even decided between Russia and America over the heads of Europeans and Ukrainians. I assume that the American government sees it the same way,” he said.
The Kremlin has stated it is against including Zelensky in the summit.
Zelensky has also argued that Kiev must be included in any talks. “I don’t know what they will talk about without us,” he said.
The US is Ukraine’s most important supporter. Washington has sent Ukraine about $175 billion in aid since the Russian invasion, including financial assistance, weapons, intelligence, and training.
