Ukraine vows to block Russian deception ahead of Alaska talks

Ukraine will not accept a Russian bid to mislead allies as Trump and Putin prepare for talks in Alaska.

Zelensky vows Ukraine will thwart Russia ahead of Trump Putin Alaska summit

President Zelensky said Ukraine will not allow Russia to deceive the United States in the upcoming peace talks as Washington and Moscow prepare to meet in Alaska on Aug 15. He described Moscow’s approach as an attempt to mislead allies and said Kyiv is in constant contact with partners to secure a just peace. Zelensky pointed to recent attacks in Zaporizhzhia as evidence that Russia seeks destruction rather than negotiation.

The discussions reportedly involve a Russian plan that would have Kyiv cede territory in Donetsk and Luhansk. Kyiv has rejected conditions that exclude Ukraine from the process and is pressing for a broader, Europe-wide effort with Kyiv at the table. U.S. officials are weighing a trilateral format with Zelensky after the Trump-Putin meeting. Officials in Kyiv and Europe have signaled a preference for a united line that keeps Ukraine’s future central to any agreement.

Zelensky’s rhetoric is a deliberate signal to Western partners that Ukraine will guard its sovereignty in any settlement. By casting Russia’s move as deception, Kyiv seeks to sustain allied pressure and keep Kyiv’s role at the center of diplomacy. The Alaska talks could test the balance between firm leverage and realistic concessions.

At the same time, the situation exposes the fragility of peace efforts. European unity and Ukrainian participation are repeatedly framed as red lines, but the path to a durable agreement remains unclear. The risk is that political pressure and sanction rhetoric outpace practical guarantees on the ground, feeding a cycle where diplomacy is praised even as the war continues.

Highlights

Diplomacy remains a delicate balance between credibility and concession.