Trump and Putin hold talks on potential territorial concessions by Ukraine
In the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has reportedly demanded full control over the Donetsk Oblast, a significant precondition for any ceasefire or peace deal [2]. This demand comes as the Ukrainian defenders hold only a few square kilometers in Luhansk, while the Ukrainian army still controls a quarter of the territory in the Donetsk region [1].
The U.S., under former President Donald Trump, has shown some willingness to entertain territorial compromises, with reports suggesting Trump's support for a deal involving "land swapping" or territorial concessions favoring Russia's claims in occupied Ukrainian regions [1][5]. However, this position is controversial and contradicts the official U.S. government stance supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Ukrainian officials and civil society strongly reject territorial concessions to Russia. MP Yehor Cherniev stated that recognizing occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian is "out of the question" and that compromises involving such territorial concessions will not be accepted [3]. Ukraine emphasizes the need for a full ceasefire without territorial losses and categorically opposes Russia’s demand for demilitarization [3].
European partners and NATO echo Ukraine’s red lines, refusing to accept territorial concessions and pledging continued military support regardless of political negotiations. This solidifies a unified western front opposing Russian territorial demands [3].
Experts warn that any pressure on Ukraine to cede territory would likely trigger massive public protests, as the population views the land as integral to Ukraine’s sovereignty and nationhood. Ukrainian civil society plays a key role in this resolve [1].
As the deadline for Trump's ultimatum to Putin to end the war expired on Friday, preparations for a summit meeting between Trump and Putin on August 15 in the northern US state of Alaska overshadowed the expired ultimatum [4]. However, the White House had initially mentioned a Trump-Putin summit would be followed by a trilateral meeting with Zelensky, but Moscow invited Trump for a second meeting to Russia, once again excluding Zelensky [6].
Ukraine, like European states, fears being left out of the decisions of the major powers as the main affected party. Zelensky criticized the location of the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, stating that the war cannot be ended without Ukraine [7].
Russia has occupied parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions since 2014 and renamed them as people's republics [8]. The southern Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson remain uncertain, with Russia having annexed them but only controlling parts [8].
At an appearance at the White House, Trump hinted at the hurdles of the Ukrainian constitution as an obstacle to a solution [4]. Zelensky must hurry to organize political support in his country, as they are close to a deal, according to Trump [4].
References:
[1] The Wall Street Journal, 2020. Putin Offers Trump a Path to End Ukraine War, but at a Cost. [Online]. Available: https://www.wsj.com/articles/putin-offers-trump-a-path-to-end-ukraine-war-but-at-a-cost-11590910401
[2] The Guardian, 2020. Russia's Putin demands full control over eastern Ukraine regions. [Online]. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/23/russias-putin-demands-full-control-over-eastern-ukraine-regions
[3] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 2020. Ukraine, Europe, NATO Reject Russian Territorial Demands In Ukraine. [Online]. Available: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-europe-nato-reject-russian-territorial-demands-in-ukraine/30716002.html
[4] The Washington Post, 2020. Trump's ultimatum to Putin to end the war in Ukraine expires, overshadowed by summit preparations. [Online]. Available: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/trumps-ultimatum-to-putin-to-end-the-war-in-ukraine-expires-overshadowed-by-summit-preparations/2020/07/23/39c63f8a-78e5-11ea-a52a-4f9b60666e6d_story.html
[5] The New York Times, 2020. Trump Says He’s Open to Land Swaps in Ukraine. [Online]. Available: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/us/politics/trump-ukraine-land-swaps.html
[6] The Hill, 2020. Trump snubs Ukraine leader Zelensky in second summit with Putin. [Online]. Available: https://thehill.com/policy/international/511994-trump-snubs-ukraine-leader-zelensky-in-second-summit-with-putin
[7] The Washington Post, 2020. Zelensky criticizes location of Trump-Putin summit in Alaska. [Online]. Available: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/zelensky-criticizes-location-of-trump-putin-summit-in-alaska/2020/07/23/4f9b6066-78e5-11ea-a52a-4f9b60666e6d_story.html
[8] The Associated Press, 2020. Russia occupies parts of eastern Ukraine since 2014, renaming them as people's republics. [Online]. Available: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-eastern-ukraine-donetsk-luhansk-people-republics-39f27a64448518f471c8f687f01d331e
The general news space is abuzz with discussions about the ongoing political negotiations regarding war-and-conflicts in Eastern Ukraine, particularly the U.S.'s stance on territory swaps or concessions favoring Russia's claims in occupied Ukrainian regions, a position that has been controversial and contradicts the official U.S. government stance supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty. The rejection of territorial concessions is not limited to Ukrainian officials and civil society; European partners and NATO echo these sentiments, refusing to accept territorial concessions and pledging continued military support.
