Reuters: Trump urged Zelensky to cede territory to Russia

During a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine should cede part of its territory to Russia in exchange for a ceasefire. According to two sources familiar with the talks, this disappointed the Ukrainian delegation.

The US president has not yet confirmed whether he will grant Kiev's request for Tomahawk missiles, nor has he ruled out offering Moscow security guarantees – something that the Ukrainian side reportedly found confusing.

According to the sources, Trump pushed for a ceasefire “where they are now,” i.e., along the current front lines. He claimed that Russia already controls 78 percent of the disputed territories. When asked directly whether he had demanded the cession of Donbas, he replied no.

The proposed land swap – Donbas for parts of Zaporizhzhya and Kherson – is said to be based on a phone call with Vladimir Putin the day before. The US president reportedly wants to meet with Putin in person soon in Budapest.

The Ukrainians consider such a proposal strategically unacceptable and a “suicidal” move. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is also said to have vehemently advocated the plan.

(reuters, max)