Zelenskyy rejects formally ceding Ukrainian territory, says Kyiv must be part of any negotiations
The Trump-Putin meeting, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, is seen as a potential breakthrough.
Trump had previously agreed to meet with Putin even if the Russian leader would not meet with Zelenskyy, stoking fears Ukraine could be sidelined in efforts to stop the continent's biggest conflict since World War II.
In a statement posted to Telegram, Zelenskyy said Ukraine's territorial integrity, enshrined in the constitution, must be non-negotiable and emphasized that lasting peace must include Ukraine's voice at the table.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine 'will not give Russia any awards for what it has done' and that 'Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.'
Touching on Ukrainian anxieties that a direct meeting between Putin and Trump could marginalize Kyiv and European interests, Zelenskyy said: 'Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work.'
Ukrainian officials had previously told the Associated Press privately that Kyiv would be amenable to a peace deal that would de facto recognize Ukraine's inability to regain lost territories militarily.
The summit
Trump said he will meet with Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
'It seems entirely logical for our delegation to fly across the Bering Strait simply, and for such an important and anticipated summit of the leaders of the two countries to be held in Alaska,' Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said Saturday in a statement posted to the Kremlin's news channel.
Such a summit may prove pivotal in a war that began more than three years ago when Russia invaded its western neighbor and has led to tens of thousands of deaths, although there's no guarantee it will stop the fighting since Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace.
In comments to reporters at the White House before his post confirming the date and place, Trump suggested that any agreement would likely involve 'some swapping of territories,' but he gave no details. Analysts, including some close to the Kremlin, have suggested that Russia could offer to give up territory it controls outside of the four regions it claims to have annexed.
Trump said his meeting with Putin would come before any sit-down discussion involving Zelenskyy. His announcement that he planned to host one of America's adversaries on U.S. soil broke with expectations that they'd meet in a third country. The gesture gives Putin validation after the U.S. and its allies had long sought to make him a pariah over his war against Ukraine.
Ultimatums and sanctions
Exasperated that Putin did not heed his calls to stop bombing Ukrainian cities, Trump, almost two weeks ago, moved up his ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin did not move toward a settlement.
The deadline was Friday. But the White House did not answer questions that evening about the state of possible sanctions after Trump announced an upcoming meeting with Putin.
Prior to Trump announcing the meeting with Putin, his efforts to pressure Russia into stopping the fighting had delivered no progress. The Kremlin's bigger army is slowly advancing deeper into Ukraine at great cost in troops and armor while it relentlessly bombards Ukrainian cities. Russia and Ukraine are far apart on their terms for peace.
Russia and Ukraine trade attacks
Two people died and 16 were wounded Saturday when a Russian drone hit a minibus in the suburbs of the Ukrainian city of Kherson, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said. Two others died after a Russian drone struck their car in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov.
Ukraine's air force said Saturday it intercepted 16 of the 47 Russian drones launched overnight, while 31 drones hit targets across 15 different locations. It also said it shot down one of the two missiles Russia deployed.
Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 97 Ukrainian drones over Russia and the Black Sea overnight into Saturday, and 21 more on Saturday morning.
Morton reported from London.
Samya Kullab And Elise Morton, The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
26 minutes ago
- Global News
How Trump's judicial picks could reshape abortion rights for decades
A review by The Associated Press shows that several of President Donald Trump's nominees to the federal courts have revealed anti-abortion views, been associated with anti-abortion groups or defended abortion restrictions. Several have helped defend their state's abortion restrictions in court and some have been involved in cases with national impact, including on access to medication abortion. While Trump has said issues related to abortion should be left to the states, the nominees, with lifetime appointments, would be in position to roll back abortion rights long after Trump leaves the White House. Trump has been inconsistent on abortion Trump has repeatedly shifted his messaging on abortion, often giving contradictory or vague answers. In the years before his most recent presidential campaign, Trump had voiced support for a federal ban on abortion on or after 20 weeks in pregnancy and said he might support a national ban around 15 weeks. Story continues below advertisement He later settled on messaging that decisions about abortion access should be left to the states. View image in full screen FILE – President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order relating to clemency for anti-abortion protesters as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Jan. 23, 2025, in Washington. Ben Curtis/ The Associated Press Throughout his campaign, Trump has alternated between taking credit for appointing the Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade and striking a more neutral tone. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy That's been an effort to navigate the political divide between his base of anti-abortion supporters and the broader public, which largely supports access to abortion. Many nominees have anti-abortion backgrounds One Trump nominee called abortion a 'barbaric practice' while another referred to himself as a 'zealot' for the anti-abortion movement. A nominee from Tennessee said abortion deserves special scrutiny because 'this is the only medical procedure that terminates a life.' Story continues below advertisement One from Missouri spread misinformation about medication abortion, including that it 'starves the baby to death in the womb' in a lawsuit aiming to challenge the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. 5:19 U.S. Supreme Court rules abortion drug Mifepristone will remain widely accessible Legal experts and abortion rights advocates warn of a methodical remaking of the federal courts in a way that could pose enduring threats to abortion access nationwide. Bernadette Meyler, a professor of constitutional law at Stanford University, said judicial appointments 'are a way of federally shaping the abortion question without going through Congress or making a big, explicit statement.' 'It's a way to cover up a little bit what is happening in the abortion sphere compared to legislation or executive orders that may be more visible, dramatic and spark more backlash,' she said. The nominees represent Trump's 'promises' to Americans: White House Harrison Fields, a White House spokesperson, said 'every nominee of the President represents his promises to the American people and aligns with the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark ruling.' Story continues below advertisement 'The Democrats' extreme position on abortion was rejected in November in favor of President Trump's commonsense approach, which allows states to decide, supports the sanctity of human life, and prevents taxpayer funding of abortion,' Fields said in a statement to the AP. Trump focused primarily on the economy and immigration during his 2024 campaign, the issues that surveys showed were the most important topics for voters. Anti-abortion groups, abortion rights advocates respond Anti-abortion advocates say it's premature to determine whether the nominees will support their objectives but that they're hopeful based on the names put forth so far. 'We look forward to four more years of nominees cut from that mold,' said Katie Glenn Daniel, director of legal affairs for the national anti-abortion organization SBA Pro-Life America. Abortion rights advocates said Trump is embedding abortion opponents into the judiciary one judge at a time. 'This just feeds into this larger strategy where Trump has gotten away with distancing himself from abortion, saying he's going to leave it to the states, while simultaneously appointing anti-abortion extremists at all levels of government,' said Mini Timmaraju, president of the national abortion rights organization Reproductive Freedom for All.
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
European leaders rally behind Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin meeting
European nations have rallied behind Ukraine, saying peace in the war-torn nation can't be resolved without Kyiv, ahead of an upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump said next Friday's meeting with his Russian counterpart on U.S. soil would focus on ending the war, now in its fourth year. In response, Zelenskyy thanked European allies in a post on X, writing Sunday: 'The end of the war must be fair, and I am grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine and our people.' Trump-Putin meeting spikes worries Saturday's statement by top European leaders came after the White House confirmed the U.S president was willing to grant Putin the one-on-one meeting Russia has long pushed for, and suggestions from Trump that a peace deal could include 'some swapping of territories.' Story continues below advertisement That raised fears that Kyiv may be pressured into giving up land or accepting other curbs on its sovereignty. A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they aren't allowed to speak publicly, told The Associated Press that Trump remained open to a trilateral summit with both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, but for now, he will have a bilateral meeting requested by Putin. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance met Saturday with top European and Ukrainian officials at the British Foreign Secretary's weekend residence to discuss how to end the war. Trump previously said he would meet with Putin regardless of whether the Russian leader agreed to meet with Zelenskyy. The Trump-Putin meeting may prove pivotal in a war that began when Russia invaded its western neighbor and has led to tens of thousands of deaths, although there's no guarantee it will stop the fighting since Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace. European leaders call for a 'just and lasting peace' Saturday's statement, signed by the president of the European Union and leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland and the UK, stressed the need for a 'just and lasting peace' for Kyiv, including 'robust and credible' security guarantees. 'Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities,' the statement said. Story continues below advertisement 'The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force,' the Europeans added. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy A fruitless push toward a truce A month-long U.S.-led push to achieve a truce in Ukraine has so far proved fruitless, with Kyiv agreeing in principle while the Kremlin has held out for terms more to its liking. Trump also moved up an ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin did not move toward a settlement. The deadline was Friday. The White House did not answer questions Saturday about possible sanctions. The Kremlin earlier this week reiterated demands that Ukraine give up territory, abandon its bid to join NATO, and accept limits on its military, in exchange for a withdrawal of Russian troops from the rest of the country. 2:38 Zelenskyy rejects negotiations that exclude Kyiv as Trump-Putin meeting set for Alaska Particularly galling for Kyiv is Moscow's insistence that it cede pockets of eastern and southern Ukraine the Kremlin claims to have annexed, despite lacking full military control. Story continues below advertisement Mark Galeotti, a British expert in Russian politics who heads the Mayak Intelligence consultancy, says Moscow's tactic of encircling towns in eastern Ukraine has brought a string of territorial gains for Russia, and Putin 'does not appear to feel under pressure.' For the Kremlin, 'further delaying any more serious U.S. action and the optics of a meeting with the U.S. president will already be wins,' Galeotti argued in an analysis published Sunday by the UK's Sunday Times newspaper. Zelenskyy rules out giving up territory Zelenskyy said Saturday that Ukraine 'will not give Russia any awards for what it has done' and that 'Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.' Ukrainian officials previously told the AP privately that Kyiv would be amenable to a peace deal that would de facto recognize Ukraine's inability to regain lost territories militarily. But Zelenskyy on Saturday insisted that formally ceding land was out of the question. Galeotti argued that any deal that involves Ukraine abandoning territory would be 'agonising' and politically dangerous for Zelenskyy. Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Zelenskyy, noted on Sunday that Kyiv will strive to boost its position ahead of the planned Trump-Putin meeting. 'Ahead lies an important week of diplomacy,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 2:09 Zelenskyy rejects territorial concessions as Trump and Putin plan Alaska summit Pushing for sanctions German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Sunday that European leaders are 'intensively preparing' ahead of the Alaska summit, while they 'hope and expect' that Zelenskyy will be invited. Merz told Germany's public broadcaster ARD that he has for weeks been encouraging Washington to toughen sanctions against Russia, adding that 'Putin only acts under pressure.' Mikhail Kasyanov, Putin's first prime minister and later a political opponent, similarly told the BBC Sunday that the Kremlin would be more willing to negotiate seriously and make some concessions when sanctions have further strained Russia's economy. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Sunday praised Washington for taking steps such as allowing more military equipment to flow to Ukraine and imposing secondary sanctions on India for purchasing Russian oil, saying Trump 'clearly is putting pressure on Putin.' Story continues below advertisement 'Next Friday will be important because it will be about testing Putin — how serious he is — on bringing this terrible war to an end,' Rutte said in an interview with ABC's This Week. 0:42 Ford calls Trump 'probably the most disliked politician in the world in Canada' — Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price in Washington, D.C., Danica Kirka in London, and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report.
Canada News.Net
an hour ago
- Canada News.Net
Trump, Putin to meet in Alaska to discuss Ukraine peace prospects
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump announced on August 8 that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next week to discuss ending the war in Ukraine — a move he described as a potential turning point after months of stalled peace efforts. The Kremlin has not yet confirmed the details, but both governments had recently indicated that a meeting was likely. Trump's decision to host Putin on U.S. soil, rather than in a neutral country, represents a notable diplomatic shift, offering the Russian leader visibility that the U.S. and its allies have tried to deny since his 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The conflict, now in its fourth year, has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and left Ukrainian cities in ruins. Despite Western military aid and sanctions on Moscow, Russia's larger forces have made incremental gains, particularly around Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region. Trump said the Alaska talks would come before any meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, even if Putin refused to engage with him — a stance that has raised concern in Europe about Ukraine's role in negotiations. He hinted a peace deal could involve a "swapping of territories" but offered no specifics. Analysts speculate Russia might give up areas outside the four regions it claims to have annexed, though Kyiv insists it will not cede land. "I believe President Putin wants to see peace, and Zelenskyy wants to see peace," Trump told reporters, adding that Ukraine is "getting everything it needs" if an agreement is possible. While rejecting the term "last chance" for peace, he noted that once fighting intensifies, "it's awfully tough to get 'em to stop." Scheduled for August 15, the meeting will be the first U.S.–Russia summit since President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in 2021. Putin last visited the U.S. in 2015 for the U.N. General Assembly. Relations have soured sharply since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, was accused of interfering in the 2016 U.S. elections, and launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Trump suggested the summit had been delayed by security arrangements but claimed it could lead to progress, similar to his recent mediation efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Two weeks ago, frustrated by continued Russian strikes, he advanced an ultimatum: more sanctions on Moscow and secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil unless movement toward a settlement occurred. Meanwhile, Putin has been speaking with key allies, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as leaders of South Africa, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. Kremlin analyst Sergei Markov suggested this outreach might signal groundwork for a potential deal. Still, significant obstacles remain. Ukraine faces manpower shortages along its 1,000-kilometer front line, while Russia continues its costly offensive without signs of scaling back its ambitions. Whether Anchorage produces a breakthrough or another symbolic exchange will become clear only after the two leaders meet.
