Trump reportedly supports a peace plan requiring Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, sparking debate over future of war talks.

 Trump reportedly supports a peace plan requiring Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, sparking debate over future of war talks.

Trump Reportedly Backs Plan for Ukraine to Cede Donbas to Russia in Peace Deal.

Washington, Aug 16, 2025 – Former U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly supporting a controversial peace plan that would see Ukraine cede the Donbas region to Russia in exchange for ending the war. The move follows his high-profile summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, according to details leaked from a post-summit call with European leaders.

Trump told European officials he believes a lasting peace deal could be achieved if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agrees to give up the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The New York Times cited two senior European officials confirming the conversation.

Sources familiar with the Alaska talks told the Guardian that Putin demanded Ukraine withdraw from Donbas as a condition for halting the war. In return, the Kremlin offered to freeze the frontline in southern Ukraine’s Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, where Russian forces currently hold significant territory.

Donbas at the center of the deal

While Luhansk is largely under Russian control, Ukraine still holds key areas of Donetsk, including Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. These positions have been heavily fortified at the cost of tens of thousands of lives. Donbas, rich in coal and iron ore, remains one of the most strategic regions in the war.

Trump has publicly argued against temporary ceasefires, saying they “often do not hold up,” instead pushing for an immediate peace agreement. However, such a stance marks a significant break with Ukraine and its European allies, who oppose ceding territory to Moscow.

European leaders cautious

European leaders including Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni, Friedrich Merz, Keir Starmer, and Donald Tusk issued a joint statement stressing that international borders “must not be changed by force.” They welcomed Trump’s efforts but emphasized that only Ukraine can decide on its territorial integrity.

Zelenskyy, who is scheduled to meet Trump in Washington on Monday, responded by saying peace must be “real and lasting, not just another pause between Russian invasions.” He added that all prisoners of war, abducted civilians, and children taken by Russia must be released.

European leaders are expected to hold further discussions with Zelenskyy ahead of his White House visit, signaling ongoing divisions over Trump’s proposed plan.

Trump is reportedly backing a peace deal that requires Ukraine to cede the Donbas region to Russia, sparking tensions with Kyiv and European allies.