In her war-ravaged hometown of Druzhkivka in eastern Ukraine, the upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US leader Donald Trump has not shaken Tania Melnikova’s decision to flee.

Since Moscow’s invasion more than three years ago, the 39-year-old has grown used to Russia–Ukraine talks failing to stop the fighting, which is now literally at her doorstep.

“Every time we get high hopes, they simply never come true, and it hurts every time,” she told AFP during a brief return to pack her belongings and persuade her mother to leave as well. “I spent three days here in complete shock, in tears. Everything we’ve built over the course of our lives is here.”

Russia is stepping up its offensive in the industrial Donetsk region ahead of the first face-to-face meeting between Putin and Trump since the start of the war in February 2022.

Seventy-three-year-old Volodymyr Lytovka could barely hold back tears as he spoke about what is at stake in the outcome of the meeting. “I want everything to be alright,” he said in the town, which is only 15 kilometers from advancing Russian forces.

Authorities in Donetsk, which Russia occupies, have for months been urging residents to evacuate, and are now introducing mandatory evacuations for children in some frontline settlements. “People are scattering. Everyone wants to live. There’s little hope this will end soon,” said 52-year-old taxi driver Serhiy Dziuba, waiting for fares as residents leave.

 
‘No Land Swap’

Anna Yakhina, who runs a military supply store with a dartboard bearing Putin’s face, says Russia is increasing strikes on her town. “The war is already here. You can feel it,” the 51-year-old said of the attacks keeping residents on edge. “Every sound triggers a reaction. People are exhausted,” she added, but insisted she would be among the last to leave, no matter how close the Russian army gets.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not attend the meeting in the US state of Alaska, prompting fears that Trump might impose painful concessions.

Dozens of demonstrators outside the US Embassy in Kyiv held placards urging Washington not to give up Ukrainian territory and to focus instead on securing the release of more prisoners. Signs read: “No Land Swap” and “Mr. Trump! No deals behind Ukraine’s back.”

In central Kyiv, 42-year-old Olena Pavlichenko said she was skeptical and did not believe the leaders would reach any concrete decisions about Ukraine. “I wouldn’t want this to be decided behind our backs. I don’t expect decisive actions from Trump or strong support for Ukraine, unfortunately,” she added.

In her view, Russia “is absolutely not ready for negotiations or for any steps to withdraw from Ukraine and end the war.”

Fifty-six-year-old engineer Kostiantyn Shelest believes Putin’s goal in the talks is to buy time to rebuild his army for another, even larger offensive. | BGNES, AFP