Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that he believes Russia wants Kyiv to withdraw from the Donbas region in exchange for not advancing in other directions, a demand he firmly rejected.
Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine would not pull out of Donbas as such a move would open the way for Russia to attack the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as Kharkiv.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that territorial issues should only be discussed after a ceasefire is established and in conjunction with security guarantees for Ukraine.
Zelenskiy said that small Russian infantry groups had advanced up to 10 kilometers at several places on the eastern front near Dobropillia and Kramatorsk. He claimed the current Russian push in eastern Ukraine was timed to coincide with talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to Zelenskiy, Russia is relocating troops from the Sumy region to Pokrovsk and Zaporizhzhia, preparing for a new assault at the beginning of September.
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