Following a summit in Alaska on August 15, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump conveyed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding control of the entire Donetsk region as part of a potential peace deal to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to sources, Putin offered to freeze most front lines, including in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, if Kyiv cedes Donetsk, an industrial heartland where Russia already controls about three-quarters of the territory. This demand aligns with Russia’s long-standing goal of securing the Donbas region, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk, areas partially occupied since 2014. Trump, emphasizing Russia’s military dominance, reportedly told Zelenskiy, “Gotta make a deal,” suggesting that Ukraine should consider conceding territory to achieve peace, a stance that diverges from Ukraine’s insistence on maintaining its territorial integrity.
Zelenskiy firmly rejected Putin’s demand, citing Ukraine’s constitutional barriers to ceding territory and the strategic importance of Donetsk’s “fortress cities” like Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, which serve as critical defenses against further Russian advances. Sources close to Zelenskiy indicate he views such concessions as not only politically untenable but also a risk to Ukraine’s long-term security, potentially enabling Russia to regroup for future aggression. Despite Trump’s push for a swift peace agreement without a prior ceasefire—contrary to the preferences of Ukraine and its European allies—Zelenskiy has maintained that any deal must include robust security guarantees and Ukraine’s right to pursue NATO membership. His rejection underscores the tension between Trump’s deal-making approach and Ukraine’s resolve to resist Russian territorial demands.
In response to these developments, Zelenskiy is set to meet Trump in Washington on Monday, August 18, 2025, with European leaders invited to join, signaling strong regional backing for Ukraine. European allies, including leaders like British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, have welcomed Trump’s diplomatic efforts but vowed to maintain or intensify sanctions on Russia to pressure Moscow. They emphasize that Ukraine must have “ironclad security guarantees” and reject Russia’s demands to limit Ukraine’s NATO aspirations or armed forces. This unified stance reflects Europe’s wariness of Trump’s inclination toward a quick deal, with critics like former German ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger calling the summit a diplomatic win for Putin with little tangible gain for Ukraine or Europe. As Zelenskiy prepares for the talks, European leaders aim to ensure Ukraine’s voice shapes any outcome, countering fears of a deal imposed without Kyiv’s consent.
