In a significant development regarding the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that negotiators have begun discussions on the potential “dividing up certain assets.” This statement comes ahead of Trump's scheduled conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, which aims to further the dialogue aimed at ending the war. Last week, Trump revealed that Ukraine had agreed to a proposed 30-day ceasefire suggested by the United States, placing the onus on Russia to respond favorably to the proposal.
While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during his return from Mar-a-Lago, Trump expressed optimism about the negotiations, stating, “We’re doing pretty well, I think, with Russia. We’ll see if we have something to announce maybe by Tuesday.” He emphasized that significant progress had been made over the weekend and expressed hope that the conflict could be resolved soon. “Maybe we can, maybe we can’t, but I think we have a very good chance,” he added.
Trump highlighted that negotiators have already identified several crucial topics for discussion, including land and power plants. “A lot of land is a lot different than it was before the war, as you know. We’ll be talking about land, we’ll be talking about power plants, that’s a big question,” he noted. He indicated that both Ukraine and Russia have engaged in preliminary discussions about “dividing up certain assets,” marking a pivotal moment in the negotiation process.
Despite the progress made in talks, Putin's response to the ceasefire proposal has been somewhat unclear. While he acknowledged agreeing with the proposal in theory, he set forth stringent conditions and demanded concessions from Kyiv. He has reiterated his stance that the current Ukrainian government is a fundamental issue contributing to the conflict. Meetings between American negotiators and representatives from both Ukraine and Russia are set to continue this week, with US negotiators also planning to travel to Russia for further discussions.
The conflict, which escalated following Russia's annexation of parts of Ukraine in 2014, saw a full-scale invasion in 2022, marking the largest land conflict in Europe since World War II. According to analysis by CNN based on data from the Institute for the Study of War, Ukraine has lost control of approximately 11% of its territory since the invasion began. The issue of land concessions remains one of the most sensitive topics in the ongoing negotiations.
American officials have indicated that for the war to conclude, Ukraine may need to concede some territory, a point that has been a significant sticking point for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Many European leaders are also concerned about the implications of appearing to reward Russia for its military actions. Meanwhile, Putin has made it clear that Russia does not intend to relinquish the territories it currently occupies.
Trump's readiness to consider concessions to Moscow even before negotiations have fully commenced, along with his favorable stance towards Putin, has raised alarms among NATO allies in Europe. Many are questioning whether the longstanding US security guarantees can still be trusted. Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, remarked on CNN that the current discussions over Ukraine are productive but did not disclose how territorial concessions might be resolved. Witkoff noted that Putin “accepts the philosophy of President Trump” regarding the urgency of ending the war.
In an encouraging sign, Putin mentioned on Friday that Russia is working towards restoring its relations with the United States, which he claimed had been "practically reduced to zero" under the previous administration. “Overall, the situation is starting to move,” he said, referring to the evolving relationship with the Trump administration. As both sides prepare for further discussions, the international community remains hopeful for a resolution to the protracted conflict.
