Trump's Struggle for a Fair and Permanent Peace is Met with Well-Wishes According to The Mail on Sunday Commentary
The ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin has led to a series of territorial disputes, causing significant civilian casualties and destruction. Since the Second World War, there has been a general agreement to leave borders where they are, but Putin's actions have challenged this consensus.
The disputed territories primarily involve Russia's claim and partial or full occupation of the Crimea peninsula (annexed in 2014) and four additional Ukrainian regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Russia demands international legal recognition of its 2014 annexation of Crimea and the annexation of these four regions, which Moscow declared in September 2022, although Russian forces do not control all these areas completely. Ukraine, on the other hand, rejects any territorial concessions or swaps, aiming to regain control of all occupied territories.
The Crimea peninsula, internationally recognised as Ukrainian territory but controlled by Russia, is one of the key areas of contention. Donetsk and Luhansk, regions in eastern Ukraine with ongoing conflict, are also under Russia's influence, with the country supporting separatists and claiming annexation. Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, which Russia occupied and annexed in 2022, are also disputed territories.
The ongoing conflict has seen Russia pushing to consolidate its control, recently gaining additional Ukrainian territory. For instance, Russia captured an additional 241 square miles between mid-July and mid-August 2025, marking a 7% increase in territory held. This ongoing conflict continues to cause significant civilian casualties and destruction, with Russia conducting large-scale missile and drone strikes, notably targeting Ukrainian supply lines and civilian areas.
The situation has led to international concern, with US President Donald Trump expressing his desire to stop the miseries caused by Putin's aggression. Trump has threatened to hit the Russian economy if Putin continues, and has spoken about potential territorial swaps between Ukraine and Russia. However, any ceasefire would trigger more talks on the rest of the land Russia has grabbed, which Ukrainian President Zelensky would rightly fear.
The sale of Alaska from the Russian Empire to the United States in 1867 serves as a historical precedent, with the Russian Empire fearing that either Britain or the USA would grab it. The true scale of the horror of the invasion of Ukraine is not fully known due to wartime secrecy on both sides.
A just and lasting peace is desired by all, but the balance of forces makes it very hard to see how a compromise can be reached. Ukraine cannot easily fight off new Russian gains without the support of the USA and Europe's NATO powers. Putin is demanding a heavy price in return for stopping his aggression, including the surrender of large slices of territory and the end of Ukraine's NATO ambitions.
A survey reveals that only 38% of Ukraine's population would consider ceding some land for peace, with the remaining 62% being resolutely opposed. This resistance highlights the challenging road to peace, as both sides dig in their heels.
The meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin will take place in Alaska, a region that once formed part of the Russian Empire. As the world watches, the hope remains that a resolution can be found to end the bloodshed and bring peace to Ukraine.
[1] "Ukraine-Russia conflict: What you need to know." BBC News, 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56489014
[2] "Ukraine war: How much of Donbas does Russia control?" BBC News, 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56373440
[3] "Ukraine war: What happened in the latest Russian attacks?" BBC News, 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62533369
[4] "Ukraine says it will not cede territory to Russia in peace talks." Reuters, 2022. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-will-not-cede-territory-russia-peace-talks-2022-09-28/
News outlets, such as BBC News and Reuters, cover the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, reporting on territorial disputes, war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news. The conflict involves the Crimea peninsula, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, with Russia demanding international legal recognition of its annexation of these regions. While Ukraine aims to regain control of the occupied territories, talks of territorial concessions and swaps have been mentioned in political discussions. Despite international concern and efforts to find a resolution, the balance of forces and the resolute opposition of the Ukrainian population to ceding any territory make it difficult to reach a compromise.
