Small groups of Russian troops have pushed further into Eastern Ukraine on Tuesday as a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump approaches. European leaders are concerned that this summit could result in peace terms being imposed on a diminished Ukraine.
In a significant move, Russian soldiers advanced close to Dobropillia, a town known for coal mining, as part of Putin’s efforts to gain full control over Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Ukrainian military forces mobilized reserve troops to engage in fierce combat against the Russian soldiers.
President Trump has suggested that any peace agreement would involve exchanging territories for the benefit of both Russia and Ukraine. However, with all contested areas located within Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his European Union allies worry that Ukraine may be pressured to concede more than Russia.
The upcoming summit between Putin and Trump, set to take place at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, will be the first U.S.-Russia meeting since 2021. The Trump administration has set modest expectations for the summit, describing it as a “listening exercise.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that the president is eager to have a direct assessment of Putin during the summit. Zelenskyy and European leaders emphasize that a lasting peace agreement must involve Ukraine at the negotiating table, adhere to international law, respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, and uphold its territorial integrity.
Zelenskyy insisted that any discussions on territorial matters should only follow a ceasefire agreement with Russia. He affirmed that Ukraine would not agree to Russian demands for troop withdrawal from the eastern Donbas region or relinquish defensive positions.
Regarding Zelenskyy’s absence from the Alaska summit, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt explained that the meeting was proposed by Putin, and Trump accepted it to gain a better understanding of how to potentially end the conflict. Leavitt added that Trump is open to a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy in the future.
Despite facing troop shortages, Ukraine’s military successfully reclaimed two villages in the Sumy region on Monday, marking a minor reversal in the prolonged series of incremental Russian advancements. Russia initiated a new offensive in Sumy this year after Putin demanded a “buffer zone” in the area.
European leaders stress the importance of Ukraine’s defense capabilities for ensuring peace and security on the continent. They express readiness to provide further support to Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized that Ukraine must not succumb in the conflict and should not be coerced into making concessions that compromise its sovereignty.
Experts like Andrew Weiss and Nigel Gould-Davies underscore that Russia’s objectives in Ukraine go beyond territorial gains and aim to assert dominance over the country, posing a broader threat to European stability.
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