KYIV, Aug 9 — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sent a clear and heartfelt message to world leaders: any decision on peace in Ukraine made without Ukraine’s direct involvement is a step away from peace, not towards it.
Speaking just days before a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Zelensky reaffirmed his country’s unwavering stance — Ukraine will never give up its land to Russia.
“Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier,” Zelensky declared in a post on social media. “Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing. The war cannot be ended without us, without Ukraine.”
While expressing readiness for “real decisions that can bring peace,” Zelensky stressed that peace must be dignified — though he did not elaborate on what that would specifically entail.
The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions. Despite three rounds of peace talks earlier this year, little progress has been made.
Putin has so far resisted international calls for a ceasefire and has refused to meet with Zelensky directly, a meeting the Ukrainian leader sees as essential for any meaningful resolution.
In announcing the upcoming Alaska summit on August 15, Trump hinted at “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both” Ukraine and Russia — but offered no further details. This meeting will mark the first face-to-face encounter between a sitting US and Russian president since Biden met Putin in Geneva in 2021.
As the world watches, one thing remains certain: Ukraine wants peace, but not at the cost of its dignity or sovereignty.
