Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear his country will not hand over any territory to Russia.
His statement follows former US President Donald Trump’s recent suggestion that a swap of land could be part of a peace deal.
The idea comes as Trump prepares for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week in Alaska.
Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia continues military strikes against civilians and has shown no real intent to stop the war.
He said Ukraine is seeking a peace that will last and cannot be broken by future Russian actions.
Trump’s plan has drawn criticism, with experts warning his team may lack the experience to negotiate effectively with Moscow.
Analysts say that by replacing sanctions with a direct meeting, Washington may be giving Moscow a political advantage.
The deadline for new US sanctions passed on 8 August without action, leading to concerns that Russia is being rewarded rather than punished.
Chatham House analyst Olga Tokariuk noted that Putin is gaining a public relations boost from the upcoming talks, which she said could help him hold onto areas of Ukraine that his forces have not secured through fighting.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, officials report that at least eight people were killed in Russian strikes overnight. The attacks hit several regions, further adding to civilian losses.
In London, the UK is hosting a high-level security meeting today with officials from Ukraine, the US, and European nations. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Zelenskyy before the meeting.
They discussed the need to work toward a fair and lasting settlement to the conflict and agreed on the importance of keeping pressure on Moscow.
The meeting, led by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Vice President JD Vance, is expected to focus on diplomatic efforts to end the war while ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty is protected.
British officials have reaffirmed full support for Ukraine, pledging to continue backing its defence against Russia’s ongoing aggression.