**Russia’s War Efforts Unchanged Ahead of Trump-Putin Summit**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is not preparing for a ceasefire, despite upcoming talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. In his evening address on August 11, Zelensky stated that there are no signs of Russia’s readiness to end the war.
This comes as Trump prepares to meet Putin in Alaska on August 15 to discuss a possible settlement to end Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. However, Ukrainian and European leaders have been skeptical of peace negotiations that exclude Kyiv.
**No Signs of Ceasefire**
Zelensky said that Russian President Putin is not preparing for a ceasefire and an end to the war. “Putin is only interested in presenting the meeting with America as his personal victory and continuing to act as before, putting pressure on Ukraine as before,” he stated.
Ukrainian intelligence and military officers have briefed Zelensky on Russia’s ongoing military preparations, which suggest that Moscow is planning new offensive operations. “There is no sign that the Russians have received signals to prepare for the post-war situation, at least not yet. On the contrary, they are moving their troops and forces in such a way as to launch new offensive operations,” Zelensky said.
**Peace Process Unclear**
While Trump has touted the August 15 summit as a major breakthrough in the peace process, Ukrainian and European leaders have expressed skepticism about negotiations that exclude Kyiv. Trump himself admitted that the talks might not produce a peace deal, describing it as a “feel-out meeting” to gauge Russia’s readiness for peace.
The details of any potential deal remain unclear, but a source in Ukraine’s Presidential Office has suggested that Moscow seeks Kyiv’s full withdrawal from the partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. In return, Russia is offering to withdraw its forces from limited areas it holds in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts.
**No Territory Cessions**
Zelensky has rejected ceding territory to Russia, urging a ceasefire as the first step toward peace talks. This position is backed by Kyiv’s European partners. Trump said that after his meeting with Putin, Zelensky would be involved in the negotiations, either in bilateral talks with Putin or trilateral talks with the Russian president and Trump.
**Online Meeting Ahead of Summit**
Trump will hold an online meeting with Zelensky and European Union leaders on August 13, two days ahead of the summit with Putin. This meeting is seen as a last-ditch effort to address concerns about the peace process before the actual talks take place.
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