The proposed deal would see Ukraine concede control over the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) and Crimea as well as Russian-held parts of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. These regions overwhelmingly voted to join Russia in referendums in 2014 and 2022.

However, despite the apparent change of tune, Ukraine remains strongly opposed to any settlement in which it gives up more land than what is currently controlled by Russian forces, the report claims. In exchange, however, Ukraine would demand “robust security guarantees,” including weapons deliveries from the West and a clear path to NATO membership, according to the report.

The apparent softening of Zelensky’s stance comes ahead of the highly anticipated summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, on Friday.

An unnamed Western official told the British daily that “the plan can only be related to the current positions held by the militaries,” adding that the weekend saw some frantic diplomacy between Kiev and its Western backers. The report also claims that the EU had decided to support Ukraine’s vision for peace in an effort to boost its diplomatic position in dealing with both Trump and Russia.

On Monday, Trump said that he and Putin would discuss a potential deal that would involve a land swap between Russia and Ukraine, noting it would be “to the betterment of both.” Apart from the aforementioned territory, Moscow also currently controls swaths of land in Kharkov, Sumy and Dnepropetrovsk regions.

Zelensky has publicly rejected any territorial concessions to Russia. Moscow has insisted that any peace deal must involve Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbass, Zaporozhye Region and Kherson Region, Kiev’s commitment to stay out of NATO, as well as the country’s demilitarization and denazification.

Zelensky’s warning comes days ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with U.S. President Trump on Aug. 15. The leaders will meet in Alaska to discuss a possible settlement to end Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

“(Putin) is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire and an end to the war,” Zelensky said.

“Putin is only interested in presenting the meeting with America as his personal victory and continuing to act as before, putting pressure on Ukraine as before.”

Ukrainian intelligence and military officers briefed the president on Russia’s ongoing military preparations, Zelensky said.

“There is no sign that the Russians have received signals to prepare for the post-war situation, at least not yet. On the contrary, they are moving their troops and forces in such a way as to launch new offensive operations. If someone is preparing for peace, they are not doing this.”

While the Trump administration has touted the Aug. 15 summit as a major breakthrough in the peace process, Ukrainian and European leaders have been skeptical of peace negotiations that exclude Kyiv.

Trump himself admitted that the talks might not produce a peace deal, telling reporters on Aug. 11 that his face-to-face with Putin was a “feel-out meeting” to gauge Russia’s readiness for peace.

“At the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, I’ll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made,” Trump said.

Trump also told reporters that a potential deal would involve “some land swapping.”

While the details of such a deal remain unclear, a source in Ukraine’s Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent that Moscow seeks Kyiv’s full withdrawal from the partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. In return, Russia is offering to withdraw its forces from the limited areas it holds in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts.

Zelensky has rejected ceding territory to Russia and urged a ceasefire as the first step toward peace talks, a position backed by Kyiv’s European partners.

Trump said on Aug. 11 that after his meeting with Putin, Zelensky would be involved in the negotiations, either in bilateral talks with Putin or trilateral talks with the Russian president and Trump.

Trump will hold an online meeting with Zelensky and European Union leaders on Aug. 13, two days ahead of the summit with Putin.

“Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities,” the leaders said, adding that “we share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests.”

The statement, which was agreed late on Monday and published on Tuesday, was endorsed by leaders of all EU member countries except Hungary.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders are scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

Trump has been vague about his expectations for the Alaska summit with Putin on Friday, describing it as a “feel-out meeting” to gauge the Russian leader’s ideas for ending the war in Ukraine.

Zelensky has ruled out ceding territory seized by force. Trump — who publicly berated Zelensky at a White House meeting in February — said he was a “little bothered” by Zelensky’s stance and insisted land swaps would need to take place.

“There’ll be some swapping, there’ll be some changes in land,” he said.

But Trump said he would also tell Putin that “you’ve got to end this war”.

Over the weekend, US Vice President J.D. Vance told Fox News that Americans were “sick” of spending tax dollars on Ukraine and that Washington was “done funding” Kiev. He suggested that if European nations “care so much about this conflict” they should play a more direct role “in funding this war yourself.”

The Times noted that despite its unwavering diplomatic support for Ukraine, Europe “lacks the strength to back Kiev” in negotiations or in guaranteeing settlement terms. The outlet recalled that the “coalition of the willing,” led by the UK and France, had previously planned to send a European contingent to Ukraine to monitor a future ceasefire. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a target of 64,000 troops, despite Russia opposing any Western military presence, warning it could trigger a world war.

However, Starmer’s target looks “highly unlikely,” The Times noted, adding that European defense ministers say there is “no chance” of meeting it and that even 25,000 troops as a joint effort would “be a push.”

“Russia has 800,000 [troops],” Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene told European counterparts earlier this year.

“If we can’t even raise 64,000…that is weak.”

In January, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky called for a foreign force of “at least 200,000 European peacekeepers” as a “baseline for security.”

The Times also stated that while Kiev’s European backers have overtaken the US in total military aid, spending over $78 billion compared to Washington’s $70 billion, most of Ukraine’s advanced weaponry still comes from the US.

Although the EU has launched an €800 billion ($867 billion) readiness plan to modernize its military, The Times said progress has been slow and “hindered by fragmented industries, political divisions and lack of a shared strategy.”

Russia has repeatedly criticized continued Western military aid to Ukraine, saying it prolongs the conflict. Moscow has also criticized Europe’s increased military spending, accusing it of pursuing “rabid militarization” threatening regional stability.

“He wasn’t part of it,” Trump told reporters.

“I would say he could go, but he’s gone to a lot of meetings; he’s been there for three and a half years, and nothing happened.”

As Washington seeks a path to end the war in Ukraine, the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin will mark their first face-to-face talks since the start of Trump’s second term.

Trump said after his meeting with Putin, a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders should take place.

“Ultimately, I’m going to put the two of them (Putin and Zelensky) in a room, I’ll be there or I won’t be there, and I think it’ll get solved,” Trump added.

During the press conference, Trump added that he was “a little bothered” by Zelensky’s words regarding “constitutional approval” for land swaps as part of a potential peace agreement.

“He’s got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap? There’ll be some land swapping going on,” Trump said.

“We’re going to change the battle lines. Russia has occupied a big portion of Ukraine. They’ve occupied some very prime territory. We’re going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine,” he added.

Trump described the upcoming meeting with Putin as a “feel-out meeting” and added that the Russian president wants “to get involved” and “to get over” the war.

“At the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, I’ll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made,” Trump noted.

Trump had announced a summit with Putin and reportedly told Ukraine and European leaders that the Kremlin is open to negotiations if “land swaps” are part of the deal.

Though it remains unclear what such a deal would entail, a source in Ukraine’s Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent that Moscow seeks Kyiv’s full withdrawal from partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in the east while offering to withdraw its forces from the limited areas it holds in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts.

Publicly, Putin has demanded a ban on Ukraine’s NATO membership and a full Ukrainian withdrawal from partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts as a precondition for peace talks.

In turn, Zelensky has rejected ceding territory to Russia and urged a ceasefire as the first step toward peace talks, a position backed by Kyiv’s European partners.

Zelensky is also expected to hold talks with European leaders and Trump two days before the summit in Alaska.