【Text by Observers Network, Qi Qian】

According to the Ukrainian News Agency and "RBC-Ukraine," on August 20 local time, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated at a press conference that he pointed out errors in the battlefield map provided by the White House during his recent meeting with U.S. President Trump. He also said that he explained to Trump that if Russia wanted to fully occupy the Donbas region, it would need to fight for at least another four years.

"We have a map showing the battlefield situation, which lists the percentage of territories occupied after 2014 and after 2022," Zelenskyy mentioned to the journalists, "but when we arrived at the White House, they already had their own map."

Zelenskyy continued to recall: "At that time, I told Trump, 'I don't need our map; I can use your map to show it because I know the situation inside out.' My explanation was detailed, but the American map was inaccurate." He mentioned that the White House map had obvious errors, such as one place stating 73% occupied, while the actual figure was 67% or 69%.

He further stated that he explained to Trump at that time that since the full-scale war began in 2022, Russia had actually only captured one-third of Donetsk over the past four years. Adding the one-third captured before the war, Russian forces currently control about 67% or 69% of Donetsk.

"So I pointed out that all those who claim they will occupy the entire Donbas by the end of this year are just making empty promises," Zelenskyy said, noting that Russia had only captured one-third of Donetsk in four years, so "to occupy the Donbas, they will need another four years."

Zelenskyy speaks to reporters on August 20, Ukrainian media

Zelenskyy also emphasized that Russian forces cannot capture Sumy and Kharkiv provinces.

He said, "The Russians will not get Sumy, frankly, they also cannot hold onto the territories they currently occupy along the border... several months later, they will no longer be present in Sumy. In the long run, they also cannot get Kharkiv province."

Zelenskyy said that during the meeting, he explained to Trump and several European leaders why Ukraine's territory was so important. "I told them that Putin wants to sell some kind of 'air'—promises not to attack us, but on the condition that we give up the territories we control," he also said. He added that the situation "is indeed complex and difficult," and that Russia has more manpower and weapons, which is a fact; but Russia's economy is also collapsing, which is also a fact.

On August 18 local time, U.S. President Trump held a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and European leaders.

American Fox News disclosed that during the meeting, Trump and Zelenskyy discussed a map showing the current frontline of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the areas controlled by Russia. It is possible that Trump used this map to discuss which territories Ukraine could give up in exchange for peace.

"I think you've all seen the map," Trump told Fox News on the 19th, saying that "a large part of Ukraine's territory has already been occupied."

The White House map shows "percentage of Russian-controlled territory"

According to a report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the message conveyed by the White House through the map to Ukraine was undeniable—it was time to consider reaching a "territorial compromise" with Russia. However, the Zelenskyy team also brought their own map to the meeting. Zelenskyy later revealed that he had been "arguing about the content on the map" during his conversation with Trump.

The map displayed by the White House showed that Russia had already controlled 99% of Luhansk, 76% of Donetsk, 73% of Zaporozhye and Kherson, 4% of Kharkiv, and 1% each of Sumy and Nikolaev.

According to the Russian TASS news agency, Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said on August 20 that the map displayed in the Oval Office during Zelenskyy's visit was "a slap in the face" for him, making him清醒.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7541052406449947172/

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