Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 9 August that Ukraine would not surrender any territory to Russia, stressing that the nation’s borders are protected by its constitution and declaring, “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.” Zelenskyy’s remarks follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion a day earlier that a prospective cease-fire could require “some swapping of territories.” Trump is due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on 15 August in Alaska—a summit confirmed by the Kremlin but expected to proceed without Kyiv’s participation. Warning that “decisions without Ukraine are decisions against peace,” Zelenskyy urged international partners to keep Kyiv at the negotiating table. European leaders issued statements backing Ukraine’s territorial integrity, while U.S. Vice-President JD Vance met officials in England to discuss next steps toward ending the conflict. Russia currently occupies about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and parts of four eastern and southern regions. The full-scale war, now in its fourth year, has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, and previous rounds of talks have failed to secure a lasting cease-fire.