The annexation of territories is not Putin’s ultimate goal. He does not accept the very existence of Ukraine. Putin wants us to disappear as a state,” Podolyak said. The Russian leader seeks to strip Ukraine of its military,

Touching on Ukrainian anxieties that a direct meeting between Mr. Trump and Putin could marginalize Kyiv and European interests, Zelenskyy said: "Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work."