Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday, August 12 that the planned meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump was a “personal victory” for the Russian leader, while emphasizing that kyiv excluded any withdrawal from his forces in eastern Ukraine in the context of a possible peace agreement.
When heading to the press from Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky also confirmed that the “groups” of Russian soldiers had managed to advance in about 10 kilometers in certain sectors of the front, but assured that they would be destroyed.
These advances increase the fear of a favorable advance in the Kremlin before the long -awaited summit between Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart, in Alaska, to discuss a possible conflict agreement.
One of the solutions mentioned by Washington, without further details, would be an exchange of territories between the two countries. A proposal swept by Kyiv and its European allies.
A “personal victory”
On Tuesday, Volodymyr Zelensky said that this arrival of Vladimir Putin in the United States, isolated from the western world since its large -scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it was already a “victory” for the head of the Kremlin.
“He (Putin) will have a meeting in the American territory, which is, I think, for him a personal victory,” said Volodymyr Zelensky, and added that this meeting made Vladimir Putin out of his “isolation” and delayed possible new US sanctions against Moscow.
The Ukrainian leader dismissed any withdrawal of his troops in eastern Ukraine as part of an agreement with Moscow under US mediation.
“We will not retire from DonBass (which includes the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lougansk, an editor’s note),” said Volodymyr Zelensky, saying that if this territory fell under the control of Moscow, then it would serve as a springboard for the Kremlin for an “offensive future” against Ukraine.
Unacceptable Russian requirements for Kyiv
Before his return to the White House, the US president boasted to put an end to three years of Russian invasion in “24 hours.” But his ambitions were bathed for the failure of three cycles of peace conversations between kyiv and Moscow recently organized in Türkiye.
At this stage, Moscow states that Ukraine gives him four partially occupied regions (Donetsk, Lougansk, Zaporijjia and Kherson), in addition to Crimea Annexas in 2014, and that renounces the deliveries of Western weapons and a membership in NATO.
Unacceptable requirements for kyiv, who wants the withdrawal of the Russian troops of its territory and Western security guarantees, including the search for weapons deliveries and the deployment of a European contingent, which is opposed to Moscow.
The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will take place a priori without Volodymyr Zelensky, exciting concerns about the possibility that an agreement concludes without Ukraine, forcing it to give in the portions of Russia of its territory.
Donald Trump said Monday “annoying” on Monday for rejection, meaning by Kyiv, to give territories. “Because there will be exchanges of territories,” he insisted. Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders must meet Wednesday with Donald Trump.
Source: BFM TV
