Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, Aug. 9, said Ukraine is ready for peace amid the war with Russia, but firmly refused the idea of conceding any land to Russia. His comments came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump made remarks indicating a deal between the two countries could have “some swapping of territories.”
On Telegram, Zelenskyy wrote that “Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier.”
“This war must be brought to an end – and Russia must end it. Russia started it and is dragging it out, ignoring all deadlines, and that is the problem, not something else,” Zelenskyy said on the platform.
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On Friday, Aug. 8, Trump announced he plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, Aug. 15 in Alaska for their first in person discussions such Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Kremlin officials previously confirmed the meeting after Trump and Putin spoke on the phone on Wednesday, Aug.6.
Later on Saturday, Aug. 9, Zelenskyy wrote on X that he spoke with Finland’s President, Alexander Stubb, about “coordinating positions for the most productive joint work with America.”
“It is important that America has the determination and the ability to end the war, and we welcome President Trump’s desire to stop the killings,” Zelenskyy said. “To respond to Russia’s intention to prolong the war and seize territorial spoils, we must act wisely and in coordination.”
Meanwhile, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said in a statement that “it seems entirely logical for our delegation to fly across the Bering Strait simply, and for such an important and anticipated summit of the leaders of the two countries to be held in Alaska,” according to the Associated Press.
Vance also talking to global leaders about Ukraine
As discussions surrounding peace talks continued on Saturday, Aug. 9, British Foreign Minister David Lammy and U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with Ukrainian and European allies in England over Ukraine, Reuters wrote, citing a Downing Street spokesperson. Before that, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer talked to Zelenskyy, per the spokesperson.
“The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine this morning. They looked ahead to the meeting of National Security Advisers from Europe, Ukraine and the United States taking place today, hosted by the UK Foreign Secretary and U.S. Vice President,” they said in a statement to Reuters.”They agreed this would be a vital forum to discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace.”
Fighting continues before anticipated talks
The Associated Press reported on Saturday, Aug. 9, that two died and 16 were injured after a Russian drone hit a minibus in suburban Kherson, Ukraine. Another two people died when another drone from Russia struck a car in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air force, according to the AP, intercepted 16 out of 47 drones Russia launched overnight, as well as one of two missiles. There were 31 drones that hit 15 different places.
Russia’s air defenses shot down 97 Ukrainian drones throughout the night and 21 more on Saturday, the AP wrote.
