A surprising diplomatic push has emerged from recent high-level talks. Former U.S. President Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants more Ukrainian land. Putin reportedly offered to freeze most battle lines. This would happen if Ukraine gave up the entire Donetsk region. This industrial area is a key Russian goal.
Trump made these comments after meeting Putin in Alaska on Friday, August 15th. Sources close to the discussions revealed the details. Zelenskyy, however, quickly rejected the idea. He noted that Russia already controls about one-fifth of Ukraine. This includes roughly three-quarters of the Donetsk province. Russia started taking parts of this region back in 2014.
On Saturday, Trump publicly urged Ukraine to make a peace deal. He plainly stated, “Russia is a very big power, and Ukraine is not.” He believes a direct peace agreement is the best path forward. This differs from a simple ceasefire, which he called “often not durable.” Trump shared his thoughts on Truth Social. He said everyone agreed to aim for a peace deal that truly ends the war.
Zelenskyy sees things differently. He believes Russia’s unwillingness to stop fighting makes lasting peace harder to achieve. He posted on X that stopping the killing is a core part of ending the war. Despite this, Zelenskyy is still set to meet Trump in Washington D.C. on Monday. This upcoming meeting might remind some of a tense encounter in February. During that visit, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance publicly criticized Zelenskyy. Trump also suggested a future three-way summit with Putin and Zelenskyy.
European allies of Kyiv have welcomed Trump’s efforts to find a solution. However, they continue to promise strong support for Ukraine. They also plan to keep increasing sanctions against Russia. Johann Wadephul, Germany’s Foreign Minister, even suggested European leaders might join the White House meeting on Monday.
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia began in February 2022. Since then, Russian forces have steadily advanced. This conflict is the deadliest in Europe in eighty years. More than one million people on both sides have been killed or injured. This includes thousands of Ukrainian civilians.
Trump’s three-hour discussion with Putin largely echoed Russia’s position. Putin believes a full resolution is complicated because both sides have “diametrically opposed” views. He has not shown any willingness to back down from Russian demands. These demands include preventing Kyiv from joining NATO. Putin has not publicly spoken about his meeting with Zelenskyy.
During a Fox News interview, Trump said he and Putin talked about handing over land and security guarantees for Ukraine. He claimed they “largely agreed” on these points. Trump said, “I think we’re pretty close to a deal.” He added that Ukraine must agree, though they might refuse. When asked for advice for Zelenskyy, Trump’s response was simple: “You got to make a deal.” He repeated his view on the power difference between the two nations.
Zelenskyy has always maintained he cannot give up territory without changing Ukraine’s constitution. He considers cities like Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in Donetsk as vital “fortress cities.” They are crucial for stopping further Russian advances. Zelenskyy also insists on security guarantees to prevent any future Russian invasions. Putin, who opposes foreign ground troops, agreed with Trump that Ukraine’s security needs to be “guaranteed.” For Putin, just having a private meeting with Trump was a win. He has been isolated from Western leaders since the war began.
Source: Reuters