Zelenskyy: War Can't End Without Ukrainian Approval

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated Kyiv's rejection of any proposal demanding the handover of territory to Russia ahead of a summit in Alaska next week between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

In a video statement on Saturday, August 9, Zelenskyy said the meeting between US and Russian presidents on Friday, August 5, was far from war in Ukraine.

The continuing war on our soil, against our people and that cannot end without us, without Ukraine, said the President of Ukraine.

According to US officials, Putin offered to stop the war in Ukraine in exchange for a significant territorial concession from Kyiv.

Putin conveyed the plan to Trump's foreign envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow on Wednesday this week.

The plan requires Ukraine to give up the eastern Donbas region, most of which is currently occupied by Russia and Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

"Ukraine is ready for a real solution that can bring peace. Any decision that harms us, any decision without Ukraine, is also a decision that harms peace," Zelenskyy said.

"All partners must understand what proper peace is. Russia is protracted in the war and "does not listen to any deadline," Zelenskyy continued.

"We are ready to work closely with President Trump, with all our partners, for the sake of true peace and, most importantly, eternal - peace that will not collapse simply because of Moscow's wishes," Zelensky said.