Zelensky Rejects Trump’s Land-Swap Plan, Vows Ukraine Will Never Surrender Territory to Russia
Kyiv(The Uttam Hindu): In a defiant statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that his country will “never hand over” its land to Russia, outright rejecting former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for a “territorial swap” to end the war.
Speaking on Saturday, Zelensky said, “Ukraine will never reward an occupier. We seek not just a pause in killings but a real and lasting peace.” His remarks came after high-level talks in Kent, England, where Ukrainian and European leaders met U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to explore diplomatic solutions to the ongoing conflict.
The meeting, attended by representatives from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, and Poland, was described by Zelensky as “positive,” with the leader expressing optimism that Western support for Kyiv would remain strong. He noted that Ukraine has backed every ceasefire initiative by the Trump administration since February, adding, “I have not heard a single ally doubt America’s ability to end the war.”
Zelensky also sharply criticized a planned August 15 meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, warning, “Any decision taken without Ukraine’s participation is meaningless and will never work.”
Trump confirmed the meeting on his Truth Social platform, stating it had been delayed for security reasons. He hinted that discussions could involve “exchange of certain areas for the betterment of both countries,” without revealing specific details. Russian state agency TASS also confirmed the Kremlin’s awareness of the meeting.