August 10, 2025

A sizzling political drama is unfolding with the announcement of a Trump-Putin summit on August 15, 2025, in Alaska, aiming to end the brutal three-year war in Ukraine. But the big question is: Will peace cost Ukraine its land? European leaders are pushing for more pressure on Russia after Mr. Trump hinted at "some swapping of territories to the betterment of both" sides. This has alarmed Kyiv and Europe, sparking worries about Ukraine losing huge areas to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is shouting a loud NO to any land giveaways. On social media, he stated, "Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier" and warned, "Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace." Zelenskyy even urged his allies, including Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to take "clear steps" for lasting peace during a call. Meanwhile, European leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Britain, Finland, and the EU Commission chief Ursula Von Der Leyen released a fiery statement. They stressed, "only an approach that combines active diplomacy, support to Ukraine and pressure on the Russian Federation to end their illegal war can succeed." They emphasized that "the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations" and any resolution must "protect Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests," including strong guarantees that help Ukraine defend itself. They added, "The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine." The stage is intense as national security advisors from the U.S., EU nations, and the UK met in Britain to align their strategies before the high-stakes summit. French President Emmanuel Macron, after talks with Zelenskyy, Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, hammered the message: "the future of Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukrainians," and highlighted Europe's key role in talks. On August 9, Zelenskyy took to the airwaves, stressing "There must be an honest end to this war, and it is up to Russia to end the war it started." Why Alaska? The summit spot—Alaska, a far-north U.S. state once sold by Russia in 1867—is symbolic and strategic. Kremlin called it “logical” because it borders Russia and the U.S., where their "economic interests intersect." But Zelenskyy pointed out it’s "very far away from this war, which is raging on our land, against our people." This summit is historic—the first between sitting U.S. and Russian presidents since Biden and Putin met in Geneva in June 2021, nine months before Russia invaded Ukraine. The Kremlin also extended an invitation for Mr. Trump to visit Russia later. However, the battlefield remains fierce. On August 9, drone attacks flew between Russia and Ukraine. Tragedy struck in Kherson, a frontline Ukrainian city, where a bus carrying civilians was hit, killing two and injuring 16. Russian forces claimed to have captured Yablonovka, a fiercely contested village in the Donetsk region, an area Putin claims as Russian territory. Back in 2022, Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—even without full control over them. Moscow demands Kyiv withdraw forces from these areas, become neutral, reject Western military help, and stay out of NATO to settle peace. Kyiv holds its ground, refusing to recognize Russian control but accepts diplomacy as the only way to regain land, not war. This summit is a dramatic act in a tense political theater. Will it bring peace or more trouble? The world watches anxiously, hoping that any deal safeguards Ukraine’s sovereignty and leads to a true, lasting peace that honors the blood and souls lost in this great conflict.

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Tags: Trump-putin summit, Ukraine war, Russia-ukraine conflict, Volodymyr zelenskyy, European leaders, Alaska meeting,