Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Ukraine would refuse any Russian offer to relinquish the Donbas region in return for a ceasefire, cautioning that this could be a pretext for future assaults.
Zelensky made these remarks prior to a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for Friday in Alaska.
Trump has indicated that any peace agreement might involve "some swapping of territories," and it is believed one of Putin's conditions is for Kyiv to cede control of areas in Donbas that it still holds.
Simultaneously, Russian forces have continued their summer offensive, launching a sudden attack near the eastern town of Dobropillya and advancing 10 kilometers (six miles) rapidly.
Zelensky acknowledged that the advance had occurred in "multiple locations,” but expressed confidence that Kyiv would soon obliterate the units responsible for the offensive.
While minimizing the impact of Russia’s advance, he remarked that it was "evident to us" that Moscow aimed to shape a "specific information narrative" before Putin meets Trump, projecting an image of Russian progress and Ukrainian losses.
No official information has been released regarding the demands that Vladimir Putin could present during his meeting with Donald Trump in Anchorage on Friday.
The Donbas, encompassing the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, has been partially occupied by Russia since 2014.
Currently, Moscow controls nearly all of Luhansk and around 70% of Donetsk, but during a press conference on Tuesday, Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine would dismiss any suggestions to abandon the Donbas.
"If we pull back from the Donbas now - our defenses, the land we occupy, the elevated positions we hold - we will undoubtedly create an opportunity for the Russians to launch an offensive," he stated.
Zelensky has previously declared that Ukrainians would not "hand over their land to the invader," and he referred to the nation's constitution, which mandates a referendum before any territorial changes.
In his address on Tuesday night, Zelensky also remarked that Moscow was gearing up for new offensives in three areas of the front - Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlov.
Last week, Trump mentioned there might be "some exchanges of territory that would benefit both" Russia and Ukraine - raising concerns in Kyiv and throughout Europe that Moscow could be permitted to alter Ukraine's borders through force.
Currently, Russia occupies just under 20% of Ukrainian territory.
The White House stated on Tuesday that the Alaska discussions would serve as a "listening exercise" for Trump, emphasizing that having him and Putin in the same room would offer the US president "the best insight on how to conclude this war."
This comes after Trump referred to the summit as a "feel-out meeting" on Monday, appearing to lower expectations regarding the potential of Friday's discussions to bring Ukraine and Russia closer to a peaceful resolution.
When the summit was announced last week, Trump expressed optimism that the meeting could lead to tangible steps towards peace.
"I believe my instincts strongly suggest we have a chance," he remarked.
However, Ukrainian President Zelensky once again cast serious doubt on the likelihood of the talks yielding a favorable outcome for Kyiv, which has not been invited to the summit. "I can't understand what they will discuss without our presence," he stated.
While Zelensky has refrained from openly criticizing Trump, his irritation at being left out has become increasingly evident, and on Tuesday, he remarked that Alaska being chosen as a meeting site was a "personal victory" for Putin.
"He is emerging from isolation because they are convening on US soil with him," he noted.
The Ukrainian leader has previously asserted that any agreements made without Kyiv's participation would be "meaningless decisions."
On Wednesday, Zelensky is scheduled to participate in a virtual meeting with Donald Trump, EU leaders, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and NATO chief Mark Rutte.
All parties will aim to persuade Trump about the necessity of not being influenced by Putin during their meeting at the the rapidly arranged summit.
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