In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump is reported to back a controversial plan that involves ceding unoccupied Ukrainian territory to Russia in an effort to secure an end to the ongoing war between the two nations. This information surfaced on Saturday, following the leak of details from Trump's recent post-summit call with European leaders. According to the New York Times, Trump expressed to European leaders his belief that a peace deal could be achievable if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agrees to relinquish control of the Donbas region, an area that Russian forces have struggled to capture over three years of intense conflict.
Reports from the Guardian indicate that during talks in Alaska, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine withdraw from the Donbas, which comprises the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as a prerequisite for halting hostilities. In return, Putin allegedly offered Trump a commitment to freeze the current frontline, particularly in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian troops currently occupy significant territories. Although Luhansk is largely under Russian control, Ukraine maintains a stronghold in critical areas of Donetsk, including the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Trump's support for ceding the Donbas region—which is rich in valuable mineral resources such as coal and iron ore—to Russia raises significant concerns among Ukrainian and European leaders. His advocacy for moving directly to a peace deal, bypassing a traditional ceasefire, has been met with skepticism. Trump articulated in a social media post that ceasefires “often times do not hold up,” which has led to fears that a direct peace agreement could give Moscow an advantageous position in negotiations.
The shift in US support for the potential cession of the Donbas represents a significant departure from the stance of Ukraine and its European allies, who are firmly opposed to such a deal. On Saturday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the US is prepared to offer security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any agreement. Trump has also issued threats of economic penalties against countries that continue to purchase Russian oil if Moscow refuses to negotiate a deal.
Ukrainian President Zelensky is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Monday for discussions with Trump. European leaders are expected to join Zelensky at the White House, as reported by the New York Times. Following his conversations with Trump and European officials, Zelensky emphasized the need for a “real peace” that ensures lasting stability rather than a temporary pause in hostilities. He stated that the ongoing violence must cease immediately, urging for the release of all Ukrainian prisoners of war and the return of abducted children.
A joint statement from European leaders—including Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, Friedrich Merz, Keir Starmer, Alexander Stubb, Donald Tusk, and António Costa—expressed their readiness to collaborate with President Trump and President Zelenskyy towards a trilateral summit with European support. However, they maintained that it is ultimately up to Ukraine to make decisions regarding its territory, emphasizing that international borders should not be altered through force.
As discussions continue, the tension between the desire for peace and the need for territorial integrity remains palpable. The upcoming video call among European leaders and Zelenskyy is expected to further clarify their collective position ahead of the pivotal meeting with Trump. The situation remains fluid, and the international community watches closely as events unfold in the quest for a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
