Trump Proposes Peace Terms for Ukraine-Russia Conflict
US President Donald Trump has outlined conditions for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, requiring Kyiv to abandon NATO ambitions and accept Crimea as Russian territory. The proposal came after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to resolving the conflict. Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and senior European leaders in Washington, setting the stage for potential diplomatic efforts.
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump emphasized that Zelensky could end the war with Russia almost immediately if he wished to do so, or alternatively continue the conflict. The proposed settlement would require Ukraine to renounce its pursuit of NATO membership and accept Crimea as part of Russia. Crimea’s annexation by Russia in 2014 followed a referendum in which the peninsula’s population overwhelmingly supported the move, a decision that Ukraine has contested. Moscow maintains that a lasting resolution would necessitate Kyiv renouncing its NATO aspirations, demilitarizing, and recognizing the current territorial status of Crimea and other regions.
Zelensky, in response, has firmly rejected such terms, stating that Russia must end the war it initiated and that Crimea should not have been ceded in 2014. This stance underscores the complexity of the ongoing conflict, with the prospect of a trilateral summit between Trump, Zelensky, and Putin contingent on substantial progress toward a settlement. The upcoming talks with European leaders may play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of these negotiations.
The geopolitical landscape remains precarious, with Moscow expressing concerns over Zelensky’s authority to sign binding agreements, given his expired presidential term and refusal to call for new elections amid martial law. The path to a lasting peace appears fraught with challenges, as the conflicting priorities of the parties involved continue to shape the narrative of the conflict. The potential for a trilateral summit hinges on the willingness of all parties to engage in meaningful dialogue and find common ground on the contentious issues at hand.