High-Level Talks on Ukraine War Held Near London as Zelensky Rejects Territorial Concessions

A high-profile meeting on the future of the war in Ukraine took place at Chevening, the official country residence of UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, near London. The talks, co-hosted by Lammy and US Vice-President JD Vance at Washington’s request, brought together senior Ukrainian security officials, representatives from the US, EU, NATO, and several European nations including France, Germany, Italy, and Finland.

Ahead of the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a firm declaration that Ukraine would not cede any territory to Russia. His comments were seen as a direct rebuff to US President Donald Trump’s recent suggestion that territorial swaps might be necessary to end the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The timing of the talks is significant, coming just days before Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska on August 15 to discuss the war’s future. Zelensky stressed that Ukraine must be included in any peace deal and vowed to work with partners to achieve a “real and lasting peace” that cannot be undermined by Moscow’s will.

French President Emmanuel Macron also weighed in, warning that Ukraine’s future “cannot be decided without the Ukrainians” and that Europe’s security is directly tied to the outcome of the conflict. While there is growing public and military fatigue from the ongoing fighting, missile strikes, and drone attacks, Kyiv remains unwilling to accept peace at the cost of its land.