Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejects the territorial concessions looming in Russia's and the US's plans to end the war in Ukraine."The answer to Ukraine's territorial issues is contained in Ukraine's Constitution. No one will deviate from it, and no one can deviate from it," he said in a video message."Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier."

According to media reports, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin demanded, ahead of a summit with US President Donald Trump, that Russia gain full control over the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. This would mean the Ukrainian army surrendering several thousand square kilometers of territory and strategically important cities.

In Washington, Trump spoke of an exchange of territories previously held by either Russian or Ukrainian troops"for the benefit of both sides." He did not provide details.

Trump and Putin are planning their summit for August 15 in the northern US state of Alaska."Very far away from this war that is raging in our country, against our people, and which cannot be ended without us, without Ukraine," Zelensky criticized. Ukraine has been defending itself against a large-scale Russian invasion for almost three and a half years.