Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly demanding ownership of the contested Donbas region in eastern Ukraine as a condition for a peace agreement to end the ongoing war.
Various media outlets indicate that during a meeting with Alaskan President Donald Trump, Putin suggested that Moscow might agree to end hostilities if Kyiv relinquishes control of the Donetsk and Luhansk territories.
Russian officials are also believed to have proposed freezing the conflict lines in other areas of Ukraine, such as Herson and Zaporidia.
In exchange, as noted by the New York Times, Putin purportedly offered a written assurance that he would refrain from attacking Ukraine or any other European nation.
Currently, Russia controls most of the Donbas, but the Ukrainian military has managed to hold onto significant portions of the territory. So even if a deal is struck, it would require Ukrainian forces to pull back.
According to the Time of London, Putin has warned Trump that the situation in Donbas is precarious, suggesting that Russia is close to fully capturing this mineral-rich area.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly denied any retreat of his troops and has consistently rejected the idea of officially ceding control of Donbas.
Zelensky intends to meet Trump in Washington on Monday, expressing on Telegram, “All issues critical to Ukraine should involve our participation, particularly territorial matters, which cannot be settled without Ukraine.”
Beyond the territorial disputes, the remaining key issue seems to revolve around Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO.
Russia has continuously opposed this prospect, citing it as a catalyst for the 2022 conflict. However, European allies recently emphasized Kyiv’s right to self-determination on NATO and EU membership matters.
In a separate development, the White House has indicated that US military support could be on the table to guarantee Ukraine’s security. Leaders from Europe and Britain have also expressed readiness to send troops as security forces.
Additionally, leaders from eight Baltic and Northern European countries have pledged ongoing military assistance to Ukraine, stating, “We will continue to arm Ukraine, enhance Europe’s defense, and prevent further Russian invasions. As long as Russia persists in its aggression, we will intensify sanctions to pressure its war economy.”
President Trump welcomed the discussions, noting progress toward peace despite a lack of a definitive agreement during the Alaska summit. In an interview with Sean Hannity, he remarked that the terms of the potential deal were “largely agreed” upon, adding that the onus is on Zelensky to act, emphasizing that Kyiv “needs to strike a deal.”
