According to two senior European officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, President Trump told European leaders that following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, he supports a peace plan that involves Ukraine ceding territory to Russia.
The Proposed Exchange
The report, published by The New York Times, states that Trump has abandoned his call for an immediate ceasefire. He now believes a swift peace agreement can be negotiated if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agrees to hand over the remaining, unoccupied parts of the Donbas region. In return, Putin has reportedly offered a ceasefire on all other fronts and a written promise that Russia will no longer attack Ukraine or any European country.
European leaders raised concerns about the proposal, noting that Putin has a history of breaking written commitments.
Strong Opposition from Ukraine and Europe
Zelenskyy and European leaders have strongly opposed the plan. They argue that ceding sovereign territory would violate Ukraine’s constitution and that international borders should not be changed by force. While Trump did not mention any additional sanctions against Russia during the call, European leaders emphasized that they will continue to impose sanctions until the fighting ends.
According to the report, Putin has so far refused to meet with Zelenskyy, whom he considers the illegitimate president of an “artificial state.” The plan is set to be discussed at the White House on Monday when Trump meets with Zelenskyy and other invited European leaders.
