Pokhara, 13 August | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that ceding the Donbas region to Russia for a ceasefire is unacceptable under any circumstances. He warned that if Donbas were given to Russia, it could be used as a staging ground for future attacks, a possibility he considers entirely unacceptable. Zelenskyy’s remarks come on the eve of a trilateral meeting scheduled for Friday in Alaska between himself, US President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US President Trump has suggested that some territorial concessions might be a possibility for achieving peace. Despite the ongoing preparations for the talks, Russian forces continue to advance. They have reportedly captured 10 kilometers of territory in Doroprila in a short period. Zelenskyy acknowledged that Russian forces have advanced in many areas but maintained that Ukrainian forces are capable of stopping them.
There has been no official information yet about what demands Putin might make during his meeting with Trump on Friday. Moscow has already secured complete control over Luhansk and controls 70% of the Donetsk region. Ukraine believes that giving up Donbas would simply open the door for further Russian aggression. Speaking on Tuesday, Zelenskyy confirmed that Russian forces are advancing in Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlivka. The upcoming talks are seen as a critical moment for the future of the Donbas region, and the international community is closely watching for a resolution.
