Zelensky draws red line: no territorial concessions ahead of Trump–Putin summit

Sunday 10 August 2025 - 11:00

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly refused any territorial concessions to Russia as a condition for peace, ahead of the scheduled summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15. This stance intensifies Kyiv’s concerns over being excluded from critical negotiations.

Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine’s territorial boundaries are enshrined in its Constitution, and therefore non-negotiable. He emphasized that any decision made without Ukraine’s involvement would undermine peace efforts. “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier,” he declared in a video message.

European leaders, including those from France, Germany, the UK, Poland, Finland, and the EU Commission, responded with a joint statement affirming that Ukraine must be central to any path toward peace. They offered continued diplomatic, military, and financial support to Kyiv while sustaining pressure on Russia.

In London, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and U.S. Vice‑President JD Vance convened talks with Ukrainian and European officials to coordinate next steps. Lammy reiterated that the UK's support for Ukraine remains unwavering.

Meanwhile, Moscow insists on freezing frontlines in parts of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia in exchange for territorial withdrawals, raising fears among Kyiv and its allies that the proposed summit could legitimize Russia's gains.