You've got to feel for Zelensky on weeks like this. 

Friday's the big day. Putin will fly to Alaska and meet Trump for cup of tea and biscuit. 

They'll negotiate the terms of ceasefire for what the Russians are calling a 'Ukraine crisis', rather than a bloody war they started. 

The body count is as astonishing as the fact there's a war raging in Europe in 2025. 

One million Russian soldiers killed or injured. 400k Ukrainian casualties, including between 60 and 100k dead. 

Moscow now occupies 20% of the country. 

And the guy responsible for this hellfire is not being dragged by soldiers into an international criminal court to face charges, he's about to be welcome, wined and dined by the most powerful man in the world to discuss terms for a ceasefire, which includes keeping land he's not entitled to. 

If we put ourselves in Ukrainian shoes for a second, if war returns to the Pacific theatre. 

It would be like Washington and Beijing meeting to decide that China can keep and occupy all the land north of Auckland simply because they took it. 

And you're meant to sit back grateful that at least the fighting will stop? 

Ukrainians certainly aren't ready to roll over on territory. 

The Europeans are huddling round Zelensky now to give him some moral support. 

But, they need more than huddles and handshakes to bandage over what must feel like an insult to their country and sovereignty - two global superpowers meeting far, far away in Alaska to decide their fate.

You've got to feel for Zelensky on weeks like this.&nbsp;
Friday's the big day. Putin will fly to Alaska and meet Trump for cup of tea and biscuit.&nbsp;
They'll negotiate the terms of ceasefire for what the Russians are calling a 'Ukraine crisis', rather than a bloody war they started.&nbsp;
The body count is as astonishing as the fact there's a war raging in Europe in 2025.&nbsp;
One million Russian soldiers killed or injured. 400k Ukrainian casualties, including between 60 and 100k dead.&nbsp;
Moscow now occupies 20% of the country.&nbsp;
And the guy responsible for this hellfire is not being dragged by soldiers into an international criminal court to face charges, he's about to be welcome, wined and dined by the most powerful man in the world to discuss terms for a ceasefire, which includes keeping land he's not entitled to.&nbsp;
If we put ourselves in Ukrainian shoes for a second, if war returns to the Pacific theatre.&nbsp;
It would be like Washington and Beijing meeting to decide that China can keep and occupy all the land north of Auckland simply because they took it.&nbsp;
And you're meant to sit back grateful that at least the fighting will stop?&nbsp;
Ukrainians certainly aren't ready to roll over on territory.&nbsp;
The Europeans are huddling round Zelensky now to give him some moral support.&nbsp;
But, they need more than huddles and handshakes to bandage over what must feel like an insult to their country and sovereignty - two global superpowers meeting far, far away in Alaska to decide their fate.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Ryan Bridge: Putin and Trump decide their fate

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d115bc2e-ec63-4832-b617-b335012f2aff/transcript