Zelenskyy: Putin wants to repeat 'Crimea scenario'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of attempting to repeat the 2014 Crimea playbook — offering a pause in the war in exchange for international acceptance of occupied Ukrainian territories.

“Contacts with the American side continue almost around the clock, at various levels, and we do not make everything public. Everyone can clearly see Putin’s tactics,” Zelenskyy said, warning that the Kremlin leader fears sanctions and is seeking to evade them.

According to Zelenskyy, Putin aims to “trade a pause in the war and killings for the legalization of the occupation of our land” and gain territorial concessions for the second time. “He was allowed to take Crimea, and that led to the occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk. Now Putin wants forgiveness for capturing the south of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, the entire territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, and Crimea. We will not allow Russia a second attempt to divide Ukraine,” he said.

The Ukrainian leader stressed that Kyiv will hold firm to its positions and seek a “dignified peace” based on a strong, reliable security framework, with support from international partners.

The remarks come just days before US President Donald Trump is set to meet Putin on Friday, August 15. Trump hinted there could be a territorial swap between Ukraine and Russia, a proposal already sparking controversy.

The Wall Street Journal reported that during a recent visit to Moscow, Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff understood Putin to have agreed to a ceasefire if Ukraine withdrew from Donetsk. However, German outlet Bild later claimed Witkoff misunderstood — Putin had allegedly meant Ukraine should leave Kherson and Zaporizhzhia instead.

Zelenskyy responded firmly, stating Ukraine will not surrender any territory and pointing out that the country’s Constitution fixes its borders. According to The Wall Street Journal, Ukraine and European allies have already presented their own peace plan ahead of the Trump-Putin talks, rejecting Russia’s proposal to trade Ukrainian-controlled parts of Donetsk for a ceasefire.