Trump Demands Ukraine Cede Territory: Deadline for Zelenskyy
Rokna Political Desk: Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a short deadline to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urging him to accept a U.S. peace proposal that includes ceding parts of Ukrainian territory to Russia, with hopes that a peace agreement between the two countries can be finalized before Christmas.
An English-language media outlet reported that the U.S. administration has given the Ukrainian president only “a few days” to respond to the American peace proposal, which involves territorial exchanges with Russia.
According to Rokna, Donald Trump has long presented a peace plan to Ukraine and Russia; however, it has been met with resistance from Ukraine and European countries, who argue that the agreement disproportionately favors Russia. Nonetheless, the United States appears determined to pressure Zelenskyy into accepting the deal.
The Financial Times reported on Tuesday evening, citing informed sources, that “the Ukrainian president told his European counterparts that during a two-hour phone call on Saturday, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. presidential special envoy, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and advisor, pressured him to make a swift decision.”
According to the newspaper, a person familiar with the proposed timeline in Kyiv stated that Trump hopes for an agreement to be reached “by Christmas,” marking the start of the new year.
The sources told the Financial Times: “President Zelenskyy has informed U.S. representatives that he needs time to consult with other European allies before responding to Washington’s proposal. Kyiv is concerned that if the U.S. proceeds without European approval, the plan could undermine Western unity.”
The English media outlet further quoted Western officials as emphasizing that “the Ukrainian side finds itself in a position where it can neither reject ceding Ukrainian territories outright nor refuse the American proposal entirely.”
On Monday evening, Zelenskyy, referring to Donald Trump’s position on ending the war in Ukraine, stated: “Donald Trump has his own view on how the war should end, which differs from Ukraine’s perspective. Under Ukraine’s constitution, international law, or moral principles, we have no right to cede our territory.”
During his visit to London, Zelenskyy also held meetings with European leaders, including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron, to discuss the issue of Ukrainian territories and the peace plan for the war-torn European nation.
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