- President Zelensky rejects any Russian proposal to give up Donbas for a ceasefire, citing risk of further attacks.
- Russian forces continue advancing near Dobropillia, with Ukraine promising a swift military response.
- Discussions between Trump and Putin may include territorial exchanges, sparking concern in Kyiv and Europe.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected any Russian offer to hand over control of the Donbas region in exchange for a ceasefire.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Zelensky warned that such a move would give Moscow a strategic advantage, allowing them to launch further attacks.
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Zelensky made these remarks ahead of a high-profile meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled in Alaska.
Trump has suggested that any peace agreement might involve some exchange of territories, a claim that has raised fears in Kyiv and across Europe.
It is believed that Putin may demand Kyiv surrender the areas of Donbas still under Ukrainian control.
Meanwhile, Russian forces have pressed on with their summer offensive, making a sudden push near the eastern town of Dobropillia, advancing about 10 kilometers in a short time. Zelensky acknowledged this advance in several areas but assured that Ukraine’s military would soon respond and eliminate the attacking units.
The Donbas region, which includes the eastern territories of Luhansk and Donetsk, has been partially occupied by Russia since 2014. Russia currently controls nearly all of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk. In a recent statement, Zelensky emphasized that retreating from these positions would hand Russia a “bridgehead” to prepare further offensives.
He also warned that Moscow is planning new attacks on three fronts: Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlovsk areas. Last week, Trump’s comment about “swapping territories” to benefit both countries sparked anxiety about the possibility of Russia redrawing Ukraine’s borders by force. At present, Russian forces occupy nearly 20% of Ukraine’s land.
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