Former President Donald Trump has expressed his support for ceding Ukraine’s mineral-rich Donbas region to Russia as part of a proposed peace deal. Trump believes that moving directly to a peace agreement, rather than first establishing a ceasefire, may facilitate negotiations between the two nations.
The Donbas region is made up of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces. It’s blessed with massive deposits of coal and iron ore. These resources have long played a central role in making the region economically powerful. This is why Trump’s comments on the campaign trail have caused serious alarm among Ukrainian and European leaders. They are concerned that any settlement would cede victory to Russia in a war that is far from finished.
Then on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with Trump in Washington. They’ll get into the details of what this proposal would mean. Zelenskyy has maintained a firm stance on Ukraine’s territorial integrity, stating that “the positions are clear,” emphasizing the need for a lasting peace rather than a temporary cessation of hostilities.
European leaders are stepping up for these crucial advocacy conversations. French President Emmanuel Macron, German opposition leader Friedrich Merz and UK Labor leader Keir Starmer will address Zelenskyy by video link on Sunday. Collectively, these conversations will help inform the current fight to support Ukraine, as well as what Trump’s dangerous proposals would mean. In recent statements, Merz has called the United States to be prepared to offer security guarantees to Ukraine. We expect this key commitment to be part of any such deal.
Now, both Trump and a number of other U.S. officials advocated for ceding Donbas to Russia. A very public joint statement from top European officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, quickly ruled out that possibility. Most of all, they reaffirmed their commitment to uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
Sources indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded Ukraine withdraw from the Donbas region as a precondition for ending the conflict. Putin actually proposed to Trump a deal to freeze the frontline in return for Ukraine conceding control of Donetsk and Luhansk. This would mean stopping further gains in the south, in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
Ukrainian forces continue to hold strategic positions deep into Donetsk, such as cities Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, among others. The long-term control of these areas makes any talks on territorial givebacks tough.
Zelenskyy’s statements over the past few days underscore his determination to win a complete and durable real peace. He called for an authentic peace. This peace needs to last, not just act as an intermission between Russian aggressions. These killings need to end today. We must stop the carnage on the ground war, the aerial war and against our port facilities. Restore all Ukrainian POWs and civilians, rebuild damaged communities, return children seized by Russia.
The possibility of a direct bilateral peace agreement with no preconditions is setting off alarms among euroskeptic citizens of Ukraine and Europe. Leaders fear that this approach could enable Russia to solidify its claims over contested territories while undermining Ukraine’s negotiating position.
As discussions continue among Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders, the international community remains watchful of the developments surrounding this critical geopolitical issue.