Zelensky says Ukraine will not cede land to Russia for peace

KYIV - Ukraine will not give up land to “the occupier” to bring an end to war but is ready to work with US President Donald Trump for real and lasting peace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on Telegram on Aug 9.

The comments were Mr Zelensky’s first response to reports on Aug 8 that discussions between Washington and Moscow centre on a deal that

would lock in Russia’s occupation of territory seized

during its military invasion, according to people familiar with the matter.

That includes a demand by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine cede Crimea, which Kremlin forces illegally annexed in 2014, as well as its entire eastern Donbas area.

It would require Mr Zelensky to order a withdrawal of troops from parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions that are still held by Kyiv.

Mr Trump announced on Aug 8 that he

will meet Mr Putin in Alaska on Aug 15

, with the apparent exclusion of Mr Zelensky from talks aimed at ending the war, which is now well into its fourth year. 

Any decisions taken without Ukraine “are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not achieve anything”, Mr Zelensky said. 

“The answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one will deviate from this,” he added.  

Ukraine is ready to work with Mr Trump and “all our partners” for a “peace that will not fall apart because of Moscow’s desire”, Mr Zelensky said.

Amid preparations for talks, Russia and Ukraine continued to trade air attacks overnight.

Through 8am Moscow time (1pm Singapore time), Russia shot down a total of 118 Ukrainian drones over its territory, according to the nation’s Defence Ministry.

Two drones targeting Moscow were downed in the morning, the Russian capital’s mayor said in Telegram posts.

Ukraine’s air forces on Telegram reported 47 drones and two Iskander missiles – a short-range tactical missile system – fired by Russia overnight.

According to preliminary data, as at 9am local time, air defences had repelled one Iskander missile and 16 drones. BLOOMBERG