Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plans for Kiev to demand Ukrainian territory to end the war. He warned that the lack of “real peace” could give Russia the opportunity to invade again.

Zelensky emphasized that if Moscow is not subjected to punitive action, it will sooner or later resume its aggression. He recalled the lack of international response to the annexation of Crimea in 2014, as well as the delayed assistance before the start of a full-scale invasion in 2022.

“(Putin) was given the opportunity to take Crimea, and this led to the occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. He did not receive preventive punishment when he massed troops on our borders. This led to a full-scale war and the occupation of even more parts of Ukraine. Now Putin wants to be forgiven for seizing the southern part of Kherson region, Zaporizhia, the entire territory of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and Crimea,” Zelensky said.

“We will not allow a second Russian attempt to divide Ukraine. And knowing Russia, where there is a second time, there will be a third. That is why we stand firmly on clear Ukrainian positions,” the president added.

US President Donald Trump and Putin will meet on August 15 in Alaska to discuss Russia's plan for a ceasefire in exchange for Moscow's surrender of eastern Ukrainian territory.

Consultations between the EU, Ukraine and the US have led to the rejection of the Russian proposal, with Washington's counter-proposal presented before the meeting, the Wall Street Journal reports. | BGNES