Kyiv refuses to back down. Moscow has rejected the two main proposals put forward by US President Donald Trump – a ceasefire between the two armies and a summit bringing together presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. Meanwhile, Russia in recent days tested the air defenses of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with drone flights over Poland and Romania. Ukraine hopes that Russian intransigence will work to its advantage, despite the difficult situation for its soldiers on the eastern front.

Kyiv refuses to back down: That was the message Ukrainian leaders sent to their allies on Friday, September 12 and Saturday, September 13, at the Yalta European Strategy forum, held annually in Kyiv by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation. "Some may think that swapping territories or trying to tempt Putin with the resumption of trade with America or the world could stop this war. That is not the case," said Zelensky, opening the conference in a clear reference to the White House's strategy.

"Giving Putin this or that piece of Ukrainian land so that he stops the war – that will not happen. And that is not a solution. It is a pause. Just like after 2008 and Georgia. Just like after 2014 with Crimea and Donetsk," he continued. "We need a guaranteed end to the war. We need guaranteed security for us, for Ukraine, for Ukrainian children."

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