Former U.S. President Donald Trump has communicated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demand to Ukrainian President Zelensky, concerning the potential cessation of hostilities: the transfer of the Donetsk province. Putin has indicated that this concession could lead to the withdrawal of the majority of Russian forces from the front lines. Trump, following a meeting with Putin in Alaska, also held discussions with Zelensky. Zelensky, however, has declined to cede Donetsk to Russia.
Russia currently controls roughly a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including a significant part of the Donetsk province, where it initially entered in 2014. Trump has expressed the view that a peace agreement should be reached before any ceasefire. This perspective aligns with Putin’s views.
The Alaska summit, which took place on August 15, involved three hours of private discussions between Trump and Putin regarding the Ukraine war, but no immediate ceasefire was announced. The press conference held afterward did not include any responses to journalists’ questions. Trump stated that the discussions were positive, yet disagreements persisted without elaborating on the specific issues of agreement. On Truth Social, Trump advocated for a direct peace agreement rather than just a ceasefire, believing the latter to often be ineffective.
Russia has welcomed Trump’s remarks that favor a comprehensive agreement instead of only a ceasefire, although this path appears challenging given the contrasting stances of the two sides. The Russian military has maintained a steady advance for several months. The conflict is seen as one of the most devastating in Europe in the last 80 years, with over a million fatalities.
Leading up to the Alaska summit, Trump stated his dissatisfaction until a ceasefire was secured. Subsequently, he announced a Monday meeting with Zelensky, followed by a potential meeting with Putin pending the outcome of the Zelensky talks. Zelensky confirmed he would meet Trump in Washington, with sources suggesting European leaders have also been invited. Zelensky has indicated his readiness to meet with Putin, though Putin has given no indication of altering Russia’s long-standing position on the conflict and has made no public comment regarding a possible meeting with Zelensky.