It's Tuesday, August 12, 2025.

We're glad you've joined us for the Daily Article Podcast from Denison Forum.

I'm Chris Elkins, voicing today's daily article written by cultural theologian, Dr. Jim Denison.

President Trump said yesterday that he will try to get back some territory for Ukraine

when he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. He also stated that

there would be, quote, some swapping changes in land between Russia and Ukraine. Whether the world could or should trust a peace

to which Mr. Putin agrees on these terms is another matter, an issue I explore in my new

Denison Forum website article, Vladimir Putin and the problem of autocratic power. Find a link to it

in today's podcast episode notes. But why would Ukrainian president

Vladimir Zelenskyy agree to such an arrangement? In recent days, he stated repeatedly that he would

not concede Ukraine land to Russia. Mr. Zelensky said last Saturday that his country could not violate its constitution on territorial issues,

adding that Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupiers.

However, the telegraph headlined yesterday that Ukraine is now prepared to cede territory held by Russia as part of a peace plan.

It reported that Mr. Zelensky, quote, told European leaders that they must reject any

settlement proposed by Donald Trump in which Ukraine gives up further territory, but that Russia

could be allowed to retain some of the land it has taken.

This would mean freezing the front line where it is and handing Russia de facto control of

territory it occupies in Luhansk, Donetsuk, Zeparizia, Kirsten, and Crimea.

Russia currently occupies around 20% of Ukraine's territory as defined by Kiev's

internationally recognized 1991 borders. Conceding these regions would require a nationwide

referendum in Ukraine. Why would their nation make such a move now? Ukraine is the largest country in Europe after Russia, with a land area about 87% the size of Texas

and a population of more than 42 million.

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