Former United States President Donald Trump reportedly told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed a settlement in which Russia would halt further military advances if Ukraine agreed to withdraw from Donetsk, a territory that has been largely under Russian influence and partial control since 2014. According to Reuters, Zelenskyy immediately rejected this offer, emphasizing that Ukraine could not surrender such a vital region. The proposal was said to have been relayed during a private briefing after Trump met with Putin in Alaska. That meeting, which lasted for three hours, marked the first official summit between the United States and Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trump, after the talks, publicly stated that Ukraine should pursue peace with Russia, stressing that Russia remained a global power while implying that Ukraine was not in a comparable position of strength.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Trump informed Zelenskyy that Putin’s proposal specifically called for Ukraine to concede Donetsk in exchange for a freeze on current front-line positions. This condition was framed as a way to immediately stop further Russian advances, though Moscow already controls a significant portion of Donetsk province. In fact, Russia currently occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, which includes most of Donetsk and other eastern regions. Trump reportedly added that he and Putin had come to a mutual understanding that any peace settlement should bypass the usual demand for a prior ceasefire, something that Ukraine and its European allies have consistently insisted upon and which until now had been supported by Washington as well.
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump elaborated on the reasoning behind this approach, arguing that a direct peace agreement would be more sustainable than a temporary ceasefire. He claimed that ceasefire deals often collapse quickly, reigniting hostilities, whereas a peace settlement could theoretically bring the war to a definitive end. His remarks underscored a shift in tone compared to the longstanding Western stance that insisted on a ceasefire before any negotiations on lasting peace could begin.
In response, President Zelenskyy reaffirmed that Ukraine could not legally or politically cede any territory without undergoing constitutional changes, which makes such concessions nearly impossible under Ukrainian law. He highlighted the importance of key urban centers within Donetsk, including Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, describing them as crucial defensive strongholds that prevent deeper Russian incursions into Ukrainian-held areas. Zelenskyy also underscored that Ukraine’s position was not simply to secure a pause in fighting but to establish enduring peace supported by strong security guarantees that would shield the nation from future Russian aggression or renewed invasion attempts.
Zelenskyy further noted that during his conversations with Trump, there had been what he described as “positive signals” from the American side regarding potential involvement in facilitating a resolution. He emphasized that Ukraine’s ultimate goal was a stable and lasting peace framework, not just another fragile truce that could collapse as soon as Russia regained strength or motivation to renew its offensives. His statements highlighted Ukraine’s deep concern that temporary halts in fighting only benefit Moscow strategically while leaving Kyiv vulnerable in the long run.
Looking ahead, Zelenskyy is scheduled to travel to Washington for a formal meeting with Trump, with discussions expected to include not just American participation but also the involvement of several European leaders. According to reporting by The New York Times, citing senior European officials, the meeting could serve as a pivotal moment in shaping the next stage of international efforts to end the war. European leaders, while cautiously welcoming dialogue, have maintained their firm backing of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. At the same time, they are preparing additional sanctions to increase pressure on Russia, signaling that any negotiated settlement must not undermine Ukraine’s independence or reward Russian territorial aggression.
