Ukrainian soldiers reject idea of negotiating with soil - The Guardian
Ukrianian soldiers are skeptical of proposals to hand over territory to Russia in exchange for peace, despite diplomatic discussions to that effect, The Guardian wrote in its material, published on Aug. 20.
Soldiers from the 150th Reconnaissance-Assault Battalion, stationed near Dobropillia, Donetsk Oblast, continue to repel Russian attacks and are preparing new defense lines in anticipation of a potential autumn offensive, using drones to strike enemy forces and logistics.
The battalion commander, 32-year-old Denys Bryzhatyi, initially declined to comment on political matters when asked if Ukraine should pay any territorial price for peace. But after some persistence, he admitted that ceding the rest of Donetsk Oblast, as demanded by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, "could become a long-term catastrophe for Ukraine."
“Losing Donetsk — an area heavily fortified against Russia — will simply open up new directions for further attacks: Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhya — areas without sufficient fortifications," he warned.
"It would be a huge and terrifying loss of strategic positions.”
Ukrainian troops are far from seeing themselves as close to defeat. One soldier, callsign Puma, who survived being shot twice in the chest in a 2016 reconnaissance mission, said he recently participated in clearing operations against Russian infiltrators near Dobropillia. During that mission, one of his comrades was killed by a Russian grenade.
Puma noted that diplomatic talks “are a distraction.” Another soldier, callsign Optimus, was even more direct:
“What’s the point of giving Russia Donetsk? After all the blood, all the loss? If we were going to do that, we could have done it at the start of the war.”
Ongoing attacks and drone warfare
The publication wrote that in just the past 24 hours, Russian forces launched 67 attacks near Dobropillia. One person was killed and three wounded in the town itself. In nearby Kostiantynivka, three were killed and four more injured.
The article also details nighttime operations by the 150th Battalion, which now uses bomber drones capable of delivering explosives up to 40 km. During the day, other units deploy German-made Vector drones for reconnaissance missions.
Russia’s demands and Ukraine’s response
According to Fox News, President Donald Trump has shown support for Putin’s proposal to allow Moscow full control of Donbas, with a freeze on other frontlines to reach a deal with Ukraine.
Following their meeting in Alaska, Trump reportedly told European allies that Putin reiterated his demands: full control over Donetsk and Luhansk, but a willingness to consider “freezing” the Zaporizhzhya and Kherson fronts.
The New York Times further reported that Trump distanced himself from the position of Ukraine and its European allies, instead endorsing Putin’s idea of a “comprehensive peace deal” that would require Ukraine to hand over unoccupied parts of Donbas.
Reuters reported on key components of the so-called “deal” discussed by Putin and Trump in Alaska:
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No ceasefire before a final agreement
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Withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donetsk and Luhansk
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Frozen frontlines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhya
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Return of some territory in Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts to Ukraine
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Formal recognition of Crimea as part of Russia
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Partial lifting of sanctions
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Ban on Ukraine joining NATO
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Some form of security guarantees for Kyiv
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Legal status for the Russian language (regionally or nationwide)
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Unrestricted activity for the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy holds the line
On Aug. 9, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed that Ukraine would not cede its territory to the occupiers and reminded that the issue of territorial integrity is enshrined in the Ukrainian Constitution — something no one can change or ignore.
He later underscored that Ukrainian forces will not retreat from the unoccupied parts of Donbas in exchange for a ceasefire.
During his meeting with Trump and European leaders in Washington on Aug. 18, Zelenskyy responded to Trump’s talk of "possible land swaps" by reiterating that any concessions would pave the way for more Russian aggression.
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