Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed Tuesday that he will not cede eastern territory to Russia, warning that abandoning the Donbas region would give Russian President Vladimir Putin the opportunity to “start a third war” in Ukraine.
His remarks come just days before Putin is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday, where the Russian leader is expected to press for territorial concessions as part of a peace deal.
Although there is uncertainty surrounding Putin’s exact terms for a ceasefire, most reported versions indicate he will demand a full withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from all areas of the Donbas still under Kyiv’s control — including parts of the Donetsk region,
