Putin Pressed Trump to Force Ukraine to Cede Strategic Regions

According to Rokna, citing The Washington Post, the Washington Post, citing officials briefed on the call, reported that Putin emphasized Donetsk as a non-negotiable demand, portraying full Russian control over the region as essential to any peace settlement. The proposal would see Russia freeze further advances in other occupied areas, including Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, in exchange for recognition of its hold on Donetsk.

The conversation marks Putin’s latest attempt to shape the terms of a possible end to the war, while Trump continues to position himself as a mediator willing to broker what he calls a “real peace deal.” The two leaders are expected to meet in Hungary in the coming weeks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky swiftly rejected the reported proposal, saying that no Ukrainian government has the authority to surrender territory under occupation. Western allies have also warned that any deal legitimizing Russian control of occupied land would undermine the international order and embolden future aggression.

Observers note that the focus on Donetsk underscores Moscow’s long-standing goal of consolidating control over the industrial Donbas region, where fighting has persisted since 2014. The renewed pressure also suggests that, despite battlefield stalemate, Putin remains committed to securing tangible territorial gains before entering any formal negotiations.