Ukrainian president says Moscow is redeploying troops for fresh assaults, not peace, as fears grow over US-brokered deal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Vladimir Putin is preparing for “new offensive operations” in Ukraine rather than seeking a ceasefire — even as the Russian leader readies for peace talks with US President Donald Trump in Alaska later this week.
Citing Ukrainian intelligence and battlefield reports, Zelenskyy said Putin intends to present Friday’s meeting with Trump as “a personal victory” before continuing the war. “There is no indication whatsoever that the Russians have received signals to prepare for a post-war situation,” he said in a late-night video message. “On the contrary, they are redeploying their troops and forces in ways that suggest preparations for new offensive operations.”
Ukraine’s military spokesperson for the southern front, Vladyslav Voloshyn, told Reuters that Russia is moving units in the Zaporizhia region to support further assaults. Zelenskyy has repeatedly warned that concessions to Moscow would not end the fighting, writing on X: “Concessions do not persuade a killer.”
The warnings come after Trump suggested Kyiv would need to cede territory to achieve peace — an idea Ukraine has firmly rejected. “There’ll be some land swapping going on… to the good of Ukraine,” Trump said at a press conference in Washington, adding he would know “in the first two minutes” of meeting Putin whether a deal was possible.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have also stressed that any peace deal must involve Ukraine directly, underscoring its right to sovereignty and self-determination. Zelenskyy, after speaking with Carney, said Russia is simply trying to “buy time” while continuing strikes on civilians and infrastructure.
A report from the US-based Institute for the Study of War echoed these concerns, noting that Kremlin messaging has shown “no signs” of preparing the Russian public for anything less than total victory. European leaders, along with Zelenskyy, plan to engage with Trump before his meeting with Putin to ensure that Washington does not impose unfavourable terms on Kyiv.