Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the deliberate summit between U.S. President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that any peace deal excluding Kyiv would result in “useless options.”
In a press release posted to Telegram, Zelenskyy stated Ukraine’s territorial integrity, enshrined in its structure, should be non-negotiable and emphasised that lasting peace should embrace Ukraine’s voice on the desk.
Zelenskyy stated Ukraine “is not going to give Russia any awards for what it has accomplished” and that “Ukrainians is not going to give their land to the occupier.”
Relating Ukrainian anxieties {that a} direct assembly between Mr. Trump and Putin may marginalize Kyiv and European pursuits, Zelenskyy stated: “Any choices which might be with out Ukraine are on the similar time choices towards peace. They won’t convey something. These are useless choices. They may by no means work.”
Mr. Trump and Putin are planning to fulfill in Alaska on Friday, August 15 – a summit that’s seen as a possible breakthrough.
A senior White Home official informed CBS Information that planning for the summit is fluid and it’s nonetheless attainable that Zelenskyy may find yourself being concerned indirectly.
The White Home stated earlier this week that Mr. Trump is open to assembly along with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, however Mr. Trump recommended Friday he could begin by assembly simply Putin. He informed reporters he plans to “begin off with Russia.” Mr. Trump additionally stated he believes “now we have a shot at” organizing a trilateral assembly with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders.
In his feedback to reporters, Mr. Trump additionally recommended that any settlement would probably contain “some swapping of territories,” however he gave no particulars.
His announcement that he deliberate to host certainly one of America’s adversaries on U.S. soil broke with expectations that they’d meet in a 3rd nation. The gesture provides Putin validation after the U.S. and its allies had lengthy sought to make him a pariah over his battle towards Ukraine.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is assembly with European nationwide safety advisers on Saturday in the UK to debate the Russia-Ukraine battle, sources informed CBS Information. The assembly will happen on the Chevening Home in Kent, the place Vance is vacationing along with his household.
The assembly, stated to be on the request of the U.S., will embrace discussions on the following steps in Mr. Trump’s push for peace in Ukraine.
Ukrainian officers had beforehand informed the Related Press privately that Kyiv can be amenable to a peace deal that will de facto acknowledge Ukraine’s lack of ability to regain misplaced territories militarily.
The summit can be the primary face-to-face assembly between Putin and an American chief since former President Joe Biden met along with his Russian counterpart in Switzerland in June 2021, eight months earlier than Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“It appears fully 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, stated Saturday in a press release posted to the Kremlin’s information channel.
Such a summit could show pivotal in a battle that started greater than three years in the past when Russia invaded its western neighbor and has led to tens of 1000’s of deaths, though there is no assure it’ll cease the preventing since Moscow and Kyiv stay far aside on their circumstances for peace.
Two folks died and 16 have been wounded Saturday when a Russian drone hit a minibus within the suburbs of the Ukrainian metropolis of Kherson, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin stated. Two others died after a Russian drone struck their automotive within the Zaporizhzhia area, based on regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov.
Ukraine’s air pressure stated Saturday it intercepted 16 of the 47 Russian drones launched in a single day, whereas 31 drones hit targets throughout 15 totally different areas. It additionally stated it shot down one of many two missiles Russia deployed.
In the meantime, Russia’s Protection Ministry stated its air defenses shot down 97 Ukrainian drones over Russia and the Black Sea in a single day into Saturday, and 21 extra on Saturday morning.
