Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is gearing up for “new offensive operations” in Ukraine, dismissing any notion that Moscow is seeking a ceasefire.
Speaking on Monday night, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence and frontline reports show Russia is redeploying troops for future assaults, particularly in the Zaporizhia region. “If someone is preparing for peace, this is not how they act,” he stressed.
The warning comes just days before Putin meets U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska for peace talks. Zelenskyy believes Putin intends to use the meeting as a “personal victory” before resuming hostilities. He also rejected Trump’s recent suggestion that Ukraine may need to cede territory to end the war, calling concessions to Russia a reward for aggression.
Meanwhile, 26 European leaders issued a joint statement affirming Ukraine’s right to decide its own future, emphasizing that any lasting peace must respect sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international law. The UK and Canada also insisted that Kyiv must be directly involved in any peace deal.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War echoed Zelenskyy’s concerns, noting that Moscow’s public messaging shows no signs of preparing Russians for anything short of total victory.
As tensions rise, both European and Ukrainian leaders plan to speak with Trump ahead of his meeting with Putin to ensure Ukraine’s interests are not compromised.