Peace at what cost? How Alaska Summit may force Ukraine to cede territory

The US-Russia summit in Alaska on August 15 may end up rewarding Russia for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is having none of it. Beyond being sidelined by Trump and Putin and the planned format of the talks, Zelenskyy has taken issue with the apparent Russian deal now on the table.

According to a Guardian report, the proposed ‘peace’ plan will see the Ukrainian army unilaterally withdrawing from the parts of Donetsk and Luhansk it still controls. And in exchange, the Kremlin would agree to freeze the lines in other places.

The Ukrainian President over the weekend emphatically rejected formally ceding any Ukrainian territory and reiterated his resolve to uphold the Constitution of Ukraine.

According to Article 2 of the Ukrainian constitution, the embattled nation’s sovereignty “extends throughout its entire territory” which “within its present border is indivisible and inviolable”. Importantly, Ukrainian laws dictate that any change to its territory has to go to a national referendum, which must be authorised by the Ukrainian parliament.

And herein lies the problem for both US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin who see this as an “obstacle” to peace efforts. Because though constitutions can be changed, it cannot happen while Ukraine is under martial law.

Ukraine has been under martial law since February 24, 2022, shortly after Russia’s invasion. And in April this year, Ukraine’s parliament once again extended it, this time until August. The move not only allowed the country to continue mobilising troops but also suspended the election cycle.

Now, Kyiv is unlikely to renounce legal claims to its own territory. But reports suggest that many in Ukraine are increasingly ready for a deal that would recognise Russian de facto control in exchange to end the fighting. After more than three years of war, the situation has become so dire that the country may be obliged to take such a deal, simply to allow for a pause in the fighting.

But, giving into these apparent demands would set a very, very dangerous precedent. Especially for countries such as Romania that border the Black Sea.