Trump backs Donbas ceding plan in peace talks

Leaked talks reveal Trump signaling support for ceding Donbas to Russia as part of a peace deal.

Trump backs Donbas ceding plan in peace talks

New details have emerged from a post summit call in which Trump reportedly told European leaders he would back a plan for Ukraine to cede the Donbas region to Russia to end the war. The reports, attributed to two senior European officials and the New York Times, describe a demand by Putin that Kyiv withdraw from Donbas in exchange for a halt to further advances and a freeze on the frontline in the south and east. The article notes that Donbas remains partially under Ukrainian control, while large parts have been controlled by Russia, complicating the peace dynamics.

Ukrainian and European leaders reacted with caution. They emphasized that borders should not be changed by force and that any lasting peace must preserve Ukraine sovereignty. The United States said it would consider security guarantees for Kyiv. Zelensky is due to meet Trump in Washington as European leaders discuss how to proceed in a trilateral format.

The episode shows how diplomacy today mixes leaks, political gambits, and strategic red lines. A plan that accepts a territorial concession would alter the rules of engagement in international conflict and could weaken Ukraine's bargaining position. It also highlights how quickly U S and European positions can diverge when domestic politics and election timing come into play.

Ultimately the leak exposes the fragility of alliance unity. It tests how far allies will back a peace process that some see as rewarding aggression, and it underscores the difficulty of balancing a rapid end to fighting with the standards that sustain international norms. The episode raises questions about trust, the handling of sensitive information, and how much room is left for diplomacy in a high stakes moment.

Highlights

Diplomacy now tests how far alliances will bend without breaking