In a move stirring emotions across the globe, former U.S. President Donald Trump has told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to consider making a peace deal with Russia — even if it means giving up more Ukrainian land.
Speaking after a controversial summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump reportedly conveyed Putin’s demand that Ukraine hand over all of Donetsk in exchange for a freeze in fighting. Zelenskiy flatly rejected the proposal, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
“Russia is a very big power, and they’re not,” Trump bluntly told reporters, suggesting Ukraine was in no position to win and needed to prioritize ending the war.
This statement came just days after Trump shifted his stance, backing away from his earlier demand for a ceasefire as a prerequisite to peace talks. Instead, he now favors heading straight into a peace agreement. “Ceasefires often don’t hold. We need to end the war,” he wrote on his platform, Truth Social.
Zelenskiy, however, pushed back strongly. “Stopping the killing is a key element of stopping the war,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). He emphasized that Ukraine seeks a genuine, lasting peace — not another temporary halt that gives Russia space to regroup.
Despite the friction, Zelenskiy agreed to meet Trump again in Washington tomorrow — a visit expected to recall the tense Oval Office meeting earlier this year, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance were openly critical of the Ukrainian leader.
A potential three-way summit between Trump, Zelenskiy, and Putin has been floated, though Russia has not confirmed such talks are in the works.
European leaders have expressed cautious support for Trump’s diplomatic push — while simultaneously reaffirming their unwavering commitment to Ukraine. Germany and Britain stated that any peace deal must include firm security guarantees for Kyiv and no restrictions on its sovereign decisions, including joining NATO.
Meanwhile, the war continues. Russian and Ukrainian forces launched overnight air strikes yet again, underscoring the daily toll of this brutal conflict. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, more than a million people — soldiers and civilians — have been killed or wounded, making it the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II.
Trump’s remarks align closely with Moscow’s official stance. He told Fox News that he and Putin had “largely agreed” on issues like land concessions and Ukraine’s future security. “I think we’re pretty close to a deal,” Trump said, but added that the final decision lies with Zelenskiy: “Maybe they’ll say no.”
Zelenskiy remains firm. He has said repeatedly that Ukraine’s constitution forbids giving up territory, and he has insisted on long-term security guarantees — not just from the U.S., but from global powers — to ensure that Ukraine is never invaded again.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed Trump’s indication that the U.S. might help provide those guarantees. Even Putin, surprisingly, agreed that Ukraine’s security must be “ensured.”
Yet the summit also gave Putin something he’s long craved: legitimacy on the world stage. For many European observers, Trump’s warm approach — the red carpet, the smiles, the hints at future visits — looked like a win for the Russian leader.
“Putin got his red carpet treatment with Trump, while Trump got nothing,” posted former German Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger.
Trump ended his summit with an ominous promise to Putin: “We’ll speak to you very soon and probably see you again very soon.” To which Putin, with a grin, replied: “Next time in Moscow.”
As the war grinds on, Ukrainians, and much of the world, are left wondering: is peace being pushed — or pressured?
