Zelensky Strongly Rejects Proposal to Cede Donbas to Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky opposed the proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to surrender the entire Donbas region to Russia in order to end the war.

According to Rokna, the summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump was held on Friday evening at the Elmendorf-Richardson Joint Base near Anchorage, Alaska, and lasted nearly three hours. The meeting drew wide reactions from both global media and European officials.

The New York Times, quoting two senior European officials, reported: “President Trump told European leaders that he believed if President Zelensky agreed to cede the remainder of the Donbas region to Russia, including areas not currently under Russian control, a swift peace agreement could be negotiated.”

The American outlet added: “In return, President Putin offered a ceasefire across the rest of Ukraine along current battle lines, as well as a written commitment not to attack Ukraine or any European country again.”

Earlier on Saturday, Donald Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform that after meeting with his Russian counterpart, he had spoken by phone with the Ukrainian president and European leaders. He stated: “Everyone is determined that the best way to end the terrible war between Russia and Ukraine is to achieve a direct peace agreement that ends the war, not merely a ceasefire, which so often does not last.”

The New York Times concluded: “European leaders, both publicly and privately, made clear that this was not the case. They issued a statement that did not reflect Mr. Trump’s claim that peace talks should take precedence over a ceasefire. The United Kingdom, France, Germany, and others welcomed Mr. Trump’s efforts to halt the war but warned that as long as the bloodshed in Ukraine continues, they will intensify economic pressure on Russia.”