Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a recent phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, reportedly demanded that Ukraine cede full control of the Donetsk region as a precondition for ending the war, according to an exclusive report by the Washington Post. Trump has not publicly mentioned or endorsed this demand.
Sources familiar with the conversation told the newspaper that Putin indicated he would be willing to cede parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in exchange for Donetsk, which he considers critical for Russia’s security.
Trump reportedly did not accept the request, nor did he publicly support it after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. On social media, Trump emphasized the need to stop the bloodshed, suggesting that both sides declare victory and let history judge, while urging a ceasefire along current front lines.
Putin’s insistence on Donetsk underscores Russia’s long-term territorial ambitions, ongoing for over 11 years. Ukrainian forces are heavily fortified in the region, viewing it as key to defending Kyiv from further Russian advances. Pro-Russian separatists have controlled parts of Donetsk since 2014 but have never fully seized the region.
White House officials consider Putin’s offer less demanding than a previous proposal made in August in Anchorage, but European diplomats caution that Ukraine is unlikely to accept it. One diplomat described it as “like selling them their own leg for nothing.”
The front lines in Ukraine have largely remained frozen for over a year, with Russia currently controlling around 20% of Ukrainian territory. Ukraine supports Trump’s call for a ceasefire along the existing lines but insists on Western security guarantees to prevent future Russian attacks.
Trump had considered sending powerful Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine ahead of the call but reportedly backed down after speaking with Putin. Speaking alongside Zelensky on Friday, Trump expressed hope that the war could end without deploying the missiles.
When asked whether Putin might be trying to buy time, Trump said he was unconcerned:
“People have always tried to outsmart me, and I’ve always come out fine. It’s okay if it takes a bit longer. I think I’m pretty good at these things.”
The next Trump-Putin meeting is scheduled for Budapest, likely in the last week of October, and the outcome could determine whether Ukraine enters winter with peace or a new round of war.
