Zelenskyy Rejects Land Concessions for Peace Amidst Trump-Putin Summit Talk

Ukraine’s President Vows No Territorial Awards for Russian Aggression

Ukrainian President **Volodymyr Zelenskyy** has emphatically rejected any notion of ceding territory to Russia as a means to end the ongoing conflict. His strong stance follows comments from U.S. President **Donald Trump** suggesting a peace deal might involve “some swapping of territories.”

Kyiv Insists on Inclusivity in Peace Talks

Speaking on Saturday, **Zelenskyy** declared that Ukraine “will not give Russia any awards for what it has done” and affirmed that “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.” These remarks were made in the wake of **Trump’s** announcement that he would meet with Russian President **Vladimir Putin**, even if **Zelenskyy** was not included.

“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.”

—Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine

The planned **Trump-Putin** summit, slated for Friday in Alaska, is being viewed as a potentially significant development in the more than three-year-old war. However, **Zelenskyy** characterized the summit as dismissible if it excluded Kyiv’s participation, warning that any resolutions reached without Ukraine would be detrimental to achieving lasting peace.

European Allies Reaffirm Support for Ukraine

Following **Trump’s** remarks, European and Ukrainian officials convened in England with U.S. Vice President **JD Vance**. These meetings, described by an unnamed U.S. official as producing “significant progress” toward ending the war, highlighted continued international engagement. French President **Emmanuel Macron** reiterated on X his determination, alongside British Prime Minister **Keir Starmer** and German Chancellor **Friedrich Merz**, to support Ukraine.

“Ukraine’s future cannot be decided without the Ukrainians. Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as their own security is at stake.”

—Emmanuel Macron, President of France

**Zelenskyy** posted on Telegram that Ukraine’s constitutional territorial integrity is non-negotiable. This aligns with private sentiments from Ukrainian officials who, while seeking an end to hostilities, acknowledged a de facto military inability to reclaim lost territories.

Alaska Summit Symbolism and Historical Echoes

The **Trump-Putin** summit, with its location in Alaska, carries significant symbolic weight. According to **Nigel Gould-Davies**, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the choice of venue “naturally favours Russia.” He suggests **Putin** might leverage the historical context of the 1867 Alaska Purchase, where Russia sold the territory to the United States, to draw parallels with territorial claims over Ukraine.

Trump, Putin set to meet in Alaska: CBC’s Heather Hiscox speaks to Andrew Rasiulis about the latest on a Trump-Putin meeting.

— CBC News (@CBCNews) February 6, 2025

In Kyiv, public sentiment on territorial concessions is mixed, reflecting a deep desire for peace alongside unwavering national pride. One resident, **Ihor Usatenko**, a 67-year-old pensioner, stated that ceding territory would be a “loss” but could be considered with compensation and reparations. Another, **Anastasia Yemelianova**, 31, expressed internal conflict, torn between national sentiment and the humanitarian cost of the war, particularly with family members living under fire.

Ongoing Hostilities and Diplomatic Pressures

The diplomatic efforts precede continued military actions. On Saturday, Russian drone attacks resulted in casualties, with two killed and 16 wounded in Kherson, and two more deaths reported in Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian air defense systems intercepted a portion of the drones, but widespread impacts were reported across 15 locations. Russia, meanwhile, claims to have downed numerous Ukrainian drones over its territory and the Black Sea.

Before the **Trump-Putin** summit announcement, **Trump** had reportedly issued an ultimatum for new sanctions on Russia and secondary tariffs on oil-importing nations if a settlement wasn’t pursued. Details on potential sanctions following the summit remain undisclosed.