Trump Applying Pressure: Possible Firing of Zelenskyy Today?
In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump has exerted pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, urging him to "end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to." This statement, made on Trump's Truth Social platform, implies that Ukraine could seek peace or ceasefire terms with Russia but might have to concede territory such as the Crimean peninsula, permanently annexed by Moscow in 2014.
Trump's comments came after a summit in Alaska where Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded Ukraine cede the eastern Donetsk region as part of a peace framework. Trump praised Putin as a strong leader and suggested Ukraine must consider compromises for peace.
This pressure is part of Trump's efforts to negotiate a peace deal independently. He has arranged separate meetings with Putin and Zelensky and announced a potential bilateral summit aimed at ending the conflict. However, Trump's approach has been described as ad hoc and lacking a coordinated multilateral framework, complicating mediation efforts.
Russian officials have rejected Zelensky's legitimacy and Putin’s willingness to negotiate directly with him, casting doubt on the prospects for an agreement as presented by Trump.
European leaders, who joined Zelensky at the White House in August 2025 to show unity, remain critical of any settlement that would legitimize Russia’s annexations and territorial gains. The implications of Trump's pressure and peace initiative are significant: while he pushes for an expedited end to the war possibly involving territorial concessions by Ukraine, many see this as weakening Ukraine’s negotiating position and undermining established Western support.
Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict continues with Russian advances in eastern Ukraine and continued airstrikes, indicating that a resolution remains distant despite diplomatic efforts.
The situation could escalate for the Ukrainian president as Trump could potentially fire him behind closed doors, according to Bild newspaper. Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, stated that Putin had already made territorial concessions in talks with US officials, but there's still a significant discussion regarding Donetsk.
Alexander Gabuev, Director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, stated that Russia's demand for Ukraine to surrender the entire Donbass region to Moscow could be a "poison pill" that weakens Ukraine internally or forces Trump to fire Zelensky if he refuses.
Putin is said to have agreed to enshrine a non-aggression pledge for the rest of Ukraine and EU states in the Russian constitution. However, in contrast, Trump greeted Putin in Alaska on Friday with careful politeness.
The Donbass region, of strategic importance to Ukraine, includes the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, which serve as Ukrainian military centers and belong to the most fortified parts of the front. If the Ukrainian Armed Forces were to withdraw from the Donbass region, they would lose defensive installations and at least 200,000 Ukrainians still live there.
In sum, Trump’s pressure on Zelensky involves urging a quick peace deal that may require Ukraine to accept significant territorial losses. This stance has stirred controversy about the future of Ukraine’s sovereignty, the legitimacy of its leader, and the broader Western strategy to support Ukraine against Russian aggression during the ongoing war.
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