Zelenskyy warns of Russian advances ahead of Trump-Putin summit

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a press briefing in Kyiv, 19 May, 2025.
Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of ongoing Russian troop advances in eastern Ukraine ahead of the upcoming Trump-Putin summit, emphasizing Ukraine’s determination to hold the Donbas region and calling for territorial talks only after a ceasefire and security guarantees.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian forces have liberated six out of 18 occupied settlements in the Sumy region, while Russian infantry units have advanced up to 10 kilometres near Dobropillia and Kramatorsk on the eastern front.

He revealed that Russia is redeploying troops from Sumy to Pokrovsk and Zaporizhzhia in preparation for a new offensive expected to begin in early September.

Zelenskyy stated that the current Russian military push is timed to coincide with the upcoming summit between Presidents Trump and Putin. He emphasized that any discussions on territorial issues must occur only after a ceasefire is in place and be accompanied by security guarantees for Ukraine.

The president also stressed that Ukraine will not withdraw from the Donbas region, warning that such a move would leave neighboring regions like Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv vulnerable to further Russian attacks.

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