Zelensky Says Ukraine Anticipates Russian Attacks “to Create More Favorable Political Circumstances for Talks with Global Actors” Following Trump-Putin Peace Summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to X on Saturday to announce that Ukrainian military officials are “documenting the movement and preparations of Russian troops” and anticipating increased strikes from Russia, following President Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.
“Knowing Russia’s treachery, we anticipate that in the coming days the Russian army may try to increase pressure and strikes against Ukrainian positions in order to create more favorable political circumstances for talks with global actors,” Zelensky said in a statement.
“Of course, we will counteract, if necessary, asymmetrically.”
This comes hours after President Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine are on the precipice of ending the years-long kinetic war that started under Biden.
After meeting with Russia’s Putin, where the two came to an agreement to secure peace, Trump announced early on Saturday that he spoke with Zelensky, European leaders, and the NATO Secretary General.
“It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up,” he said.
He further stated that “President Zelenskyy will be coming to D.C., the Oval Office, on Monday afternoon,” and “if all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin. Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved.”
On Friday, Putin expressed hope that “We expect that Kiev and European capitals will perceive that constructively and that they will not throw a wrench in the works, it will not make any attempts to use some backroom dealings to conduct provocations to torpedo the nascent progress.”
However, Zelenskyy claims that Russia is planning to sabotage the deal in order to gain leverage.
He highlighted the ongoing defense of the Donetsk region, which Russia has occupied in part, stating, “for the second day in a row, we have achieved successes in some extremely difficult areas.”
Full statement below:
I received a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. The front, the defense of positions, and up-to-date information on the intentions and movements of the Russian army. We are defending our positions along the entire front line, and for the second day in a row, we have achieved successes in some extremely difficult areas in the Donetsk region – in the direction of Dobropillia and Pokrovsk.
In particular, I want to commend the units of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov”, the units of the 7th Corps of the Air Assault Forces, the units of the 38th Separate Marine Brigade named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi, as well as the units of our 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar.” The destruction of the occupiers who tried to infiltrate deeper into our positions continues. There has also been an important replenishment of Ukraine’s “exchange fund” with Russian soldiers.
The Commander-in-Chief also reported on the actions of our units in the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions. I am grateful to all our warriors for their resilience. Based on the political and diplomatic situation around Ukraine, and knowing Russia’s treachery, we anticipate that in the coming days the Russian army may try to increase pressure and strikes against Ukrainian positions in order to create more favorable political circumstances for talks with global actors.
We are documenting the movement and preparations of Russian troops. Of course, we will counteract, if necessary, asymmetrically. I asked the Commander-in-Chief to speak with combat commanders. Ukraine needs strong positions and truly tangible resistance to the enemy.
I thank every one of our soldiers, sergeants, and officers who are carrying out combat missions and destroying the occupiers in the way that is necessary for Ukraine’s confidence.
Glory to Ukraine!
I received a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. The front, the defense of positions, and up-to-date information on the intentions and movements of the Russian army. We are defending our positions along the entire front line, and for the second day in a row, we have…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 16, 2025
This is a developing story.
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