Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Ukraine will not allow “a second attempt to partition” the country, stressing that peace must come through a “just end to the war” rather than territorial concessions to Russia.
“We will not allow this second attempt to partition Ukraine. Knowing Russia, where there is a second, there will be a third. That is why we stand firm on clear Ukrainian positions. We must end the war with a dignified peace, based on a clear and reliable security architecture,” Zelensky said.
His remarks come days before US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska next Friday.
The Ukrainian leader accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of attempting to “legalise” occupied territories in exchange for halting the fighting.
“Everyone clearly sees Putin’s tactics. He fears sanctions and is doing everything to bail on them. He wants to exchange a pause in the war, in the killings, for the legalisation of the occupation of our land – he wants to get territorial spoils for the second time,” said Zelenskyy in a video message.
Zelenskyy in a clear manner said that he will not allow the partition of Ukraine, pointing out that Russia might try to launch a third attempt to occupy its territory. He urged to end the war with “dignified peace and security architecture” for the future safety of Ukraine and Russia.
The Ukrainian president underscored that any settlement must prioritise immediate peace, not a delayed ceasefire that would give Russia breathing space.
“What is needed now is not a pause in the killings, but a real, lasting peace. Not a ceasefire sometime in the future, in months, but immediately,” Zelenskyy said.
“The path to peace for Ukraine must be determined together with Ukraine – this is fundamental. It is important that joint approaches and a shared vision work toward genuine peace. A consolidated position. Ceasefire. End of occupation. End of war.”
Earlier, Zelenskyy warned in clear words that, “Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier.”
https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1954063616514097261
The Alaska summit, announced by Trump on Friday, will mark the first face-to-face between sitting US and Russian leaders since the Biden-Putin talks in Geneva in June 2021.
In announcing the meeting, Trump hinted that the talks could involve territorial adjustments, saying there would be “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both” Ukraine and Russia, without offering specifics.
Zelenskyy also revealed that his government had been in close contact with key Western allies in the run-up to the Alaska meeting. He cited recent talks between Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak and representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and Poland, describing the discussions as “constructive” and focused on a “consolidated position” for peace.
