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 “lifeless 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 embody Ukraine’s voice on the desk.
Zelenskyy stated Ukraine “won’t give Russia any awards for what it has executed” and that “Ukrainians won’t give their land to the occupier.”
Concerning Ukrainian anxieties {that a} direct assembly between Mr. Trump and Putin might marginalize Kyiv and European pursuits, Zelenskyy stated: “Any selections which might be with out Ukraine are on the similar time selections towards peace. They won’t deliver something. These are lifeless selections. They may by no means work.”
Mr. Trump and Putin are planning to satisfy in Alaska on Friday, August 15 – a summit that’s seen as a possible breakthrough.
A senior White Home official advised CBS News that planning for the summit is fluid and it’s nonetheless attainable that Zelenskyy might find yourself being concerned ultimately.
The White Home stated earlier this week that Mr. Trump is open to assembly together with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, however Mr. Trump advised Friday he might begin by assembly simply Putin. He advised reporters he plans to “begin off with Russia.” Mr. Trump additionally stated he believes “we’ve got a shot at” organizing a trilateral assembly with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders.
In his feedback to reporters, Mr. Trump additionally advised that any settlement would probably contain “some swapping of territories,” however he gave no particulars.
His announcement that he deliberate to host one in every 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 conflict towards Ukraine.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with European nationwide safety advisers on Saturday in the UK to debate the Russia-Ukraine conflict, sources advised CBS News. The assembly passed off on the Chevening Home in Kent, the place Vance is vacationing together with his household.
The assembly, stated to be on the request of the U.S., included discussions on the subsequent steps in Mr. Trump’s push for peace in Ukraine.
“Immediately’s hours-long conferences produced vital progress towards President Trump’s aim of bringing an finish to the conflict in Ukraine, forward of President Trump and President Putin’s upcoming assembly in Alaska,” a U.S. official advised CBS News.
Ukrainian officers had beforehand advised the Related Press privately that Kyiv could be amenable to a peace deal that might de facto acknowledge Ukraine’s incapability to regain misplaced territories militarily.
The summit could be the primary face-to-face assembly between Putin and an American chief since former President Joe Biden met together with his Russian counterpart in Switzerland in June 2021, eight months earlier than Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“It appears completely logical for our delegation to fly throughout the Bering Strait merely, and for such an essential and anticipated summit of the leaders of the 2 international locations to be held in Alaska,” Putin’s overseas affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, stated Saturday in a statement posted to the Kremlin’s information channel.
Such a summit might show pivotal in a conflict 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 not any assure it can cease the preventing since Moscow and Kyiv stay far aside on their situations for peace.
Two folks died and 16 had 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, in keeping with 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 completely different places. 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.
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