Putin reportedly told Trump Russia needs Donetsk and Luhansk to halt fighting, but Zelensky vows no territorial concessions.
Putin reportedly told Trump Russia needs Donetsk and Luhansk to halt fighting, but Zelensky vows no territorial concessions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly told former US President Donald Trump that Ukraine must surrender more territory if peace is to be achieved, setting the stage for high-stakes Oval Office talks with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday.
According to sources involved in Friday’s closed-door discussions in Alaska, Putin insisted that Moscow should gain full control of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including areas still under Kyiv’s authority. In return, he suggested, Russia would freeze the front lines elsewhere.
The Russian leader is said to have framed the demand as a necessary step to “end the war,” even as Kyiv has consistently rejected such concessions. Zelensky has repeatedly declared that Ukraine will not cede sovereignty or territory to Russia under any circumstances.
The Alaska summit ended without a breakthrough, leaving Trump in the middle of what could become his most consequential diplomatic test since returning to office. His meeting with Zelensky at the White House is expected to focus on US security guarantees, military aid, and whether Washington can mediate a settlement acceptable to both sides.
Western officials fear Putin’s demands may amount to an ultimatum that would cement Russia’s control over swathes of occupied land while undermining international law. But for Trump, who has long promised to end the war quickly if reelected, the Alaska encounter may be presented as proof of progress toward a ceasefire.
“The message from Moscow was clear this is what they want in exchange for peace,” one person briefed on the talks told reporters.
Zelensky, however, is expected to arrive in Washington determined to push back. In recent weeks he has warned that rewarding Russia with Ukrainian land would only embolden further aggression.
Easily access major global news with a strong focus on Africa. As well as the main stories of the day, we like to accentuate positive stories about Africa across all genres including Politics, Business, Commerce, Science, Sports, Arts & Culture, Showbiz and Fashion.
We broadcast 24 hours a day from our studios in London and New York and can be seen here in the UK and across Europe on the Sky platform (Sky channel 516), Freeview (Channel 136) as well as in the USA on the Centric channel and also on the Hot bird platform, which transmits to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
—
*Source: [https://www.arise.tv/category/global](https://www.arise.tv/category/global)*