Zelenskyy rejects ceding Ukrainian territory, says Kyiv must be part of negotiations

[ad_1] KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday rejected the concept that his nation would quit land to finish the battle with Russia after U.S. President Donald Trump instructed a peace deal might embody “some swapping of territories.”

Zelenskyy mentioned Ukraine “is not going to give Russia any awards for what it has completed” and that “Ukrainians is not going to give their land to the occupier.”

The remarks got here after Trump mentioned Friday that he would meet with Vladimir Putin even when the Russian chief wouldn't meet with Zelenskyy. The Trump-Putin assembly, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, is seen as a possible breakthrough within the greater than three-year battle.

Zelenskyy dismissed the deliberate summit, warning that any negotiations to finish Europe’s greatest battle since World Struggle II should embody Kyiv.

“Any selections which are with out Ukraine are on the identical time selections in opposition to peace. They won't deliver something. These are useless selections. They are going to by no means work,” he mentioned.

In an announcement posted to Telegram, Zelenskyy mentioned Ukraine’s territorial integrity, enshrined within the structure, should be nonnegotiable, and emphasised that lasting peace should embody Ukraine’s voice on the desk.

Ukrainian officers had beforehand advised The Related Press privately that Kyiv can be amenable to a peace deal that may de facto acknowledge Ukraine’s lack of ability to regain misplaced territories militarily.

The Trump-Putin assembly could show pivotal in a battle that started when Russia invaded its western neighbor and has led to tens of 1000's of deaths, though there’s no assure it's going to cease the combating since Moscow and Kyiv stay far aside on their situations for peace.

“It appears solely logical for our delegation to fly throughout the Bering Strait merely, and for such an necessary and anticipated summit of the leaders of the 2 international locations to be held in Alaska,” Putin’s international affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, mentioned Saturday in an announcement posted to the Kremlin's information channel.

In his feedback to reporters on the White Home Friday, Trump gave no particulars on the "swapping of territories.” Analysts, together with some near the Kremlin, have instructed that Russia might provide to surrender territory it controls outdoors of the 4 areas it claims to have annexed.

Trump mentioned his assembly with Putin would come earlier than any sit-down dialogue involving Zelenskyy. His announcement that he deliberate to host one among America’s adversaries on U.S. soil broke with expectations that they’d meet in a 3rd nation. The gesture offers Putin validation after the U.S. and its allies had lengthy sought to make him a pariah over his battle in opposition to Ukraine.

Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia on the Worldwide Institute for Strategic Research, advised the AP that the “symbology” of holding the summit in Alaska was clear, and that the placement “naturally favors Russia.”

“It’s simple to think about Putin making the purpose. … We as soon as had this territory and we gave it to you, subsequently Ukraine had this territory and now ought to give it to us,” he mentioned, referring to the 1867 transaction often called the Alaska Buy when Russia bought Alaska to america for $7.2 million.

On the streets of Kyiv, reactions to the concept of Ukraine ceding territory to Russia ranged from skepticism to quiet resignation.

“It might not be capitulation, however it could be a loss,” mentioned Ihor Usatenko, a 67-year-old pensioner, who mentioned he would contemplate ceding territory “on situation for compensation and, probably, some reparations.”

Anastasia Yemelianova, 31, mentioned she was torn: “Truthfully, I've two solutions to that query. The primary is as an individual who loves her nation. I don’t wish to compromise inside myself,” she advised the AP. “However seeing all these deaths and understanding that my mom is now residing in Nikopol beneath shelling and my father is combating, I need all this to finish as quickly as attainable.”

Others, like Svitlana Dobrynska, whose son died combating, rejected outright concessions however supported halting fight to avoid wasting lives.

“We don’t have the chance to launch an offensive to recapture our territories,” the 57-year-old pensioner mentioned, “However to stop folks from dying, we will merely cease navy operations, signal some type of settlement, however not quit our territories.”

Exasperated that Putin didn't heed his calls to cease bombing Ukrainian cities, Trump had moved up an ultimatum to impose extra sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs focusing on international locations that purchase Russian oil if the Kremlin didn't transfer towards a settlement.

The deadline was Friday. However the White Home didn't reply questions that night about attainable sanctions after Trump introduced the assembly with Putin.

Earlier than Trump introduced the summit, his efforts to stress Russia into stopping the combating had delivered no progress. The Kremlin’s larger military is slowly advancing deeper into Ukraine at nice value in troops and armor whereas it relentlessly bombards Ukrainian cities.

On Saturday, two folks died and 16 have been wounded when a Russian drone hit a minibus within the suburbs of the Ukrainian metropolis of Kherson, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin mentioned. Two others died after a Russian drone struck their automobile within the Zaporizhzhia area, in keeping with regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov.

Ukraine’s air drive mentioned it intercepted 16 of the 47 Russian drones launched in a single day, whereas 31 drones hit targets throughout 15 totally different places. It additionally mentioned it shot down one of many two missiles Russia deployed.

Russia’s Protection Ministry mentioned its air defenses shot down 97 Ukrainian drones over Russia and the Black Sea in a single day and 21 extra Saturday morning.