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On Tuesday Ukrainian Dictator Vladimir Zelensky said that he believes Russia will continue the fighting in the Ukraine war. President Donald Trump is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska. While Trump seeks furthering his peace plan, Russia seeks “the normalization of bilateral relations,” according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov on Tuesday.
I am grateful to the leaders of Europe for their clear support of our independence, territorial integrity, and precisely such an active approach to diplomacy that can help end this war with a dignified peace. Indeed, we all support President Trump’s determination, and together we must shape positions that will not allow Russia to deceive the world once again. We see that the Russian army is not preparing to end the war. On the contrary, they are making movements that indicate preparations for new offensive operations. In such circumstances, it is important that the unity of the world is not threatened. Issues related to the security of Ukraine and Europe are discussed by all of us together. Any decision must add to our joint security capabilities. And if Russia refuses to stop the killings, it must be held accountable. As long as they continue the war and occupation, all of us together must maintain our pressure – the pressure of strength, the pressure of sanctions, the pressure of diplomacy. I thank everyone who is helping. Peace through strength.
I am grateful to the leaders of Europe for their clear support of our independence, territorial integrity, and precisely such an active approach to diplomacy that can help end this war with a dignified peace.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 12, 2025
Indeed, we all support President Trump’s determination, and together…
Interestingly, part of Trump’s peace plan requires a land swap, something Ukraine’s Dictator became belligerent about over the weekend.
On Monday The Telegraph claimed that Ukraine has softened it’s position on the land swap issue, citing unnamed sources:
Volodymyr Zelensky told European leaders that they must reject any settlement proposed by Donald Trump in which Ukraine gives up further territory – but that Russia could be allowed to retain some of the land it has taken.
This would mean freezing the front line where it is and handing Russia de facto control of the territory it occupies in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Crimea.
The softening of the negotiating position comes ahead of talks between Mr Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
“The plan can only be related to the current positions held by the militaries,” a Western official said, characterising a frantic weekend of diplomacy between Kyiv and its allies.
Ukraine and Europe have become increasingly concerned that Mr Trump and Putin could negotiate an end to the long-running war over Mr Zelensky’s head.
Conflictingly, Zelensky said Tuesday that “As long as they [Russia] continue the war and occupation, all of us together must maintain our pressure,” indicating that, at least publicly, he is defiant of the land swap stipulation.
On Monday Zelensky also said that Russia is preparing for continuing the war:
Today, there was a report from the intelligence and military command on what Putin is counting on and what he is actually preparing for, including military preparations. He is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire or an end to the war. Putin is determined only to present a meeting with America as his personal victory and then continue acting exactly as before, applying the same pressure on Ukraine as before. So far, there is no indication whatsoever that the Russians have received signals to prepare for a post-war situation. On the contrary, they are redeploying their troops and forces in ways that suggest preparations for new offensive operations. If someone is preparing for peace, this is not what he does. We continue to keep our partners informed about the real situation on the battlefield, in diplomacy, and in Russia’s planning of further actions.
Today, there was a report from the intelligence and military command on what Putin is counting on and what he is actually preparing for, including military preparations. He is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire or an end to the war. Putin is determined only to present a… pic.twitter.com/T3sqQg0ltT
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 11, 2025
On Tuesday Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that the upcoming Alaska summit gives Moscow a chance to mend strained relations with Washington and tackle long-running disputes.
“We hope that the forthcoming high-level meeting will give an impulse to the normalization of bilateral relations, which will allow us to move forward on several issues,” he said.
Russian news further explained some of the industrial and diplomatic relations:
Direct passenger flights between Russia and the US were suspended in 2022 after Washington imposed sweeping sanctions over the Ukraine conflict.
Ryabkov added that “it is clear that the leaders will focus on other topics,” referring to the Ukraine conflict. On Monday, Trump said the summit – which he described as a “feel-out meeting” – would explore a potential deal involving the swapping of territory between Russia and Ukraine as part of a settlement.
However, the official acknowledged that “at this stage, there is no observable progress regarding the return of Russian diplomatic property in the US.” He was referring to several compounds, including Russia’s San Francisco consulate, which were closed by US authorities in 2016–2017.
The combination of topics spanning industry and economics along with military activity in the Russian official’s statements echoed Wednesday’s meeting topics between Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin in Moscow, a meeting that resulted in an offer that the Kremlin said was acceptable, setting the stage for the upcoming Trump, Putin meeting.
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