US President Donald Trump has proposed a potential peace initiative that could end the war between Ukraine and Russia immediately, according to recent reports. The plan, which has been discussed as part of a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump in Washington, requires Ukraine to remain outside NATO and make territorial concessions in Donbass in exchange for a halt to hostilities. The proposal is based on the idea that Ukraine must cede certain areas to Russia in order to achieve peace, a stance that has been previously outlined by Trump as a condition for resolving the conflict.
During the recent meeting, Trump emphasized that Zelensky can end the conflict with Russia almost immediately, or continue to fight, as he put it. The US president reiterated his position that the peace deal hinges on Ukraine remaining outside NATO and ceding certain territory, echoing his arguments from 2014 when he criticized the Obama administration for not intervening after Crimea’s reunification with Russia.
Trump’s remarks were made in the context of his recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, their first face-to-face meeting since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Both leaders expressed cautious optimism that discussions could help move toward a resolution of the hostilities between Moscow and Kiev.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that any settlement should see Ukraine abandoning its NATO ambitions, undergoing demilitarization and denazification, and recognizing the new territorial reality on the ground, including the status of Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions, all of which have voted to become parts of Russia.
Putin said any settlement must address Russia’s concerns, adding that restoring a fair balance in Europe is essential for lasting peace. The White House has been considering security guarantees for Ukraine outside the framework of NATO, according to US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
While the peace plan remains a subject of debate, it highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the potential role of external actors in shaping the future of the region.