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Zelensky’s softened position on possible cession of territory comes ahead of Friday’s Trump-Putin peace summit in Alaska. Ukraine could agree to stop fighting and cede territory already occupied by Russia as part of a European-backed peace plan...

Kiev, Aug. 12 (Dp.net).– These twisted negotiations are taking place as the Russian military proclaims a "Black Tuesday" for the Ukrainian armed forces in view of their demonstrated inability to seize the initiative at the junction of the Pokrovsky and Konstantinovsky directions.

Nevertheless, some confidential rumors suggest that Ukraine may be willing to cease fighting and cede territory already held by Russia as part of a European-backed peace plan. However, these rumors also hint that Ukraine would only agree to such a proposal if it’s part of a pathway to NATO membership and the delivery of weapons.

On his part, Trump says both sides in the Ukraine war will need to cede territory, while European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plan to speak with Trump ahead of his summit with Putin in Alaska on Friday, amid fears Washington may dictate unfavorable peace terms to Ukraine. He warned on Monday that any concessions to Russia would not persuade it to stop fighting and more pressure was needed on the Kremlin – "Concessions do not persuade a killer," he added.

In fact, according to reports, Kremlin officials are requesting that Ukraine freeze the lines in other regions and hand up strategically important unoccupied territory in Donetsk Oblast to Russia as part of a ceasefire deal.  Ukraine would be forced to leave its "fortress belt," the main fortified defensive line in Donetsk Oblast since 2014, if the remaining Donetsk Oblast surrendered as a condition of a ceasefire without any commitment to a final peace settlement ending the war, there'll be no assurance that fighting won't resume when Putin considers that circumstances are in his favor.

While considering this, European leaders understand that Trump has hardened his stance towards Moscow by agreeing to allow additional U.S. weapons to reach Ukraine and threatening tariffs against buyers of Russian oil, but they fear that he might agree to a deal that forces big concessions from Kyiv. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday that "transatlantic unity, support to Ukraine and pressure on Russia" were needed to end the war and "prevent future Russian aggression in Europe." He declared that the EU would work on a 19th package of sanctions against Russia and warned again against concessions to Moscow.

Following this line of action, Germany will convene a virtual meeting of European leaders tomorrow, Wednesday, to discuss how to pressure Russia ahead of a European call with Trump. Zelenskiy, and EU and NATO officials are expected to join the meeting.