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Zelensky stated on Monday that his country’s intelligence service has found no evidence that Russian troops are preparing for post-war operations and instead are being redeployed for offensive actions. He added that Putin plans to present the summit as a personal victory and continue applying pressure on Ukraine afterward.
George Beebe, former director of the CIA’s Russia analysis, told Newsweek there is reason to hope the Putin-Trump summit can help advance an end to the war in Ukraine but negotiations would eventually need to involve Kyiv. According to Zelensky, Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups are infiltrating areas near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
Beebe noted that both sides must make concessions for a framework that could set the stage for further negotiations on peace. This includes Russia acknowledging Ukraine’s right to pursue EU membership while Kyiv and the West concede it will not be part of NATO, with alliance members not placing military forces on Ukrainian territory.
Zelensky commented, “There is no indication whatsoever that the Russians have received signals to prepare for a post-war situation. On the contrary, they are redeploying their troops in ways that suggest preparations for new offensive operations.”
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Further diplomatic wrangling is expected before Friday when Putin might propose Kyiv withdraw troops from Donetsk and Luhansk regions in exchange for Moscow withdrawing its troops from Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts. However, this scenario remains speculative at present.
Newsweek contacted the Kremlin for comment but did not receive a response.
