In a high-stakes meeting at the White House, US President Donald Trump reportedly urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to accept Russia’s peace terms to end the ongoing war. According to multiple insiders familiar with the discussion, Trump warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin had threatened to “destroy” Ukraine if Kyiv refused to cooperate.
Trump Pushes for Concessions in Eastern Ukraine
During the closed-door meeting, Trump pressed Zelenskiy to cede the entire eastern Donbas region to Russia as part of a peace settlement. The request mirrored the terms Putin outlined in a recent call with Trump, where the Russian leader emphasized his demands for Ukraine to relinquish control of key territories in the east.
Despite Trump’s initial insistence, Ukrainian officials reportedly managed to shift the discussion toward a more balanced proposal. The compromise centered on freezing the current battle lines rather than surrendering the disputed regions. Following the meeting, Trump stated that “both sides should halt the war at the battle line,” while Zelenskiy described the dialogue as “an important step” toward a possible resolution.
Zelenskiy Seeks Weapons, Trump Pushes Diplomacy
President Zelenskiy had arrived in Washington seeking advanced weapons and defense support to continue Ukraine’s resistance. However, the tone of the meeting revealed a stark contrast between Kyiv’s focus on military aid and Washington’s renewed push for diplomacy. Trump appeared more eager to secure a peace deal that could halt the fighting and redefine US involvement in the conflict.
Sources indicated that Trump’s stance has evolved since his recent call with Putin, who reportedly offered limited concessions. Moscow signaled it might accept Ukrainian control over small parts of the southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in exchange for full control of Donbas — a smaller demand than Putin’s original 2024 proposal, which included all of Donbas, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, totaling nearly 20,000 square kilometers.
Upcoming Peace Summit Expected
The conversation between Trump and Zelenskiy followed an earlier agreement between Trump and Putin to hold a second peace summit within two weeks. The meeting, expected to take place in Budapest, aims to revive the faltering diplomatic process after a previous summit in Alaska failed to deliver tangible progress.
Observers say the push for negotiations reflects Trump’s broader vision of reducing US military commitments abroad. However, critics argue that pressuring Ukraine to concede territory could embolden Russia and undermine Kyiv’s sovereignty.
Zelenskiy’s office has not issued a formal statement regarding the reported pressure from Washington, but sources close to the Ukrainian administration confirmed growing concerns about US policy shifts. As diplomatic efforts continue, the fate of Ukraine’s territorial integrity — and the future of the war — remain uncertain.
