In a recent meeting at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider relinquishing the eastern Donbas region in exchange for peace amid ongoing tensions regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. A senior Ukrainian official shared details of the discussions with AFP, describing the atmosphere as “tense” and suggesting that diplomatic initiatives to resolve the conflict are currently stagnating.
Zelensky met with Trump last Friday, aiming to leverage the U.S. president’s growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s apparent unwillingness to agree to a ceasefire. However, the Ukrainian leader left the meeting without the long-range Tomahawk missiles he had requested, as Trump reportedly pressured him to clinch a deal more favorable to Russia.
When asked if Trump specifically encouraged Zelensky to surrender land still held by Ukraine—a key demand of Putin—the official confirmed, “Yes, that’s true.” This assertion highlights the complexities and challenges of ongoing negotiations, as Zelensky seeks to uphold Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Trump later characterized the discussions on social media as “very interesting, and cordial,” reiterating his strong recommendation to both Zelensky and Putin to cease hostilities and negotiate a resolution. Asserting his commitment to ending what he described as Russia’s extensive invasion, Trump had previously claimed he could resolve the conflict within 24 hours of his inauguration, yet he has struggled to achieve any tangible progress in negotiations.
Zelensky’s visit to Washington underscores the delicate balance of international diplomacy as Ukraine continues to grapple with the ramifications of the invasion. The discussions reflect an ongoing effort to find common ground but also reveal the challenges presented by competing interests and the shifting dynamics of leadership responses to the conflict.
