President Trump met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday to see if a deal could be reached to end the war in Ukraine. After the meeting, Trump told European allies that Putin proposed Russia take full control of the Donbas region. This move, Putin argued, would stop the fighting and bring peace.
A European diplomat told Fox News that “President Trump supports the terms of this proposal.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, pushed back on that claim on “Sunday Morning Futures,” saying, “The president has said that, in terms of territories, these are things that Zelenskyy is going to have to decide on. These are things that the Ukrainian side is going to have to agree to.”
Another masterclass from Secretary Marco Rubio.
A must watch! pic.twitter.com/7NY6EHZHyh
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) August 17, 2025
Donbas at the Heart of the Deal
The Donbas region, home to 6.5 million people, includes Luhansk and Donetsk, according to the Ukrainian Research Institute of Harvard University. Ukraine still holds about 30% of Donetsk. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed not to surrender that land. He insists giving up Donbas would be unconstitutional and warns it could enable future Russian offensives.
NOW – Zelensky says Ukraine’s constitution makes giving up land “impossible,” and should only be discussed at a trilateral meeting; if Russia “refuses,” more sanctions “must” be imposed. pic.twitter.com/7wicKa5erW
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) August 17, 2025
Despite this, Trump urged Zelenskyy to accept Putin’s offer. Zelenskyy will meet Trump at the White House on Monday to discuss the peace proposal.
Trump Shifts Toward Peace Agreement
Trump initially supported a ceasefire. But after his talks with Putin, he shifted toward a full peace deal. Russia, Trump said, wants a long-term settlement, not just a temporary fix.
On Truth Social, Trump said on Saturday: “It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up.”
On Sunday, he said, “BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED! President DJT.”
Mixed Reaction From Europe
European leaders reacted cautiously. While they did not endorse Putin’s plan, they praised Trump’s leadership in seeking peace. (RELATED : The Trade Deal That Changed Everything: U.S.–EU Breakthrough)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told ZDF television, “And the good news is that America is ready to participate in such security guarantees and is not leaving it to the Europeans alone.” About the possibility of a peace agreement, he said, “If that works out, it’s worth more than a ceasefire.”
The European Commission issued a statement on Trump’s efforts, saying they: “welcomed President Trump’s efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine, end Russia’s war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace.”
But skepticism remained. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský posted: “From Putin, we heard the same propagandistic nonsense about the ‘roots of the conflict’ that his state television promotes. The problem is Russian imperialism, not Ukraine’s desire to live freely.” (RELATED: Alaska Hosts Historic Summit Between Trump and Putin)
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas posted on X: “President Trump’s resolve to get a peace deal is vital. The EU and our European partners worked to coordinate with President Trump ahead of Alaska meeting. But the harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon.”
Hungarian Prime Minister and friend of Trump, Viktor Orban expressed optimism, writing: “For years we have watched the two biggest nuclear powers dismantle the framework of their cooperation and shoot unfriendly messages back and forth. That has now come to an end. Today the world is a safer place than it was yesterday. May every weekend be at least this good!”
Putin and Zelenskyy Respond
Putin said his talk with Trump was “very frank.” He added: “We, of course, respect the position of the American administration, which sees the need for a speedy end to military actions. We would like to move to resolving all issues by peaceful means.”
Several European leaders will join Zelenskyy in Washington by invitation of President Trump to continue negotiations for a peace deal and to keep them part of the process, as they are close to the region. On Sunday, Zelenskyy met in Brussels with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who will travel with him.
Zelenskyy posted on X: “We agreed on the necessity of a ceasefire for subsequent diplomatic steps, effective security guarantees for Ukraine, and continued sanctions pressure on Russia.”
I had an important meeting with President of the European Commission @vonderleyen in Brussels. Significant support for Ukraine in the context of the upcoming meeting with President Trump.
Today, together and in several formats, we are determining what we will discuss in… pic.twitter.com/I8doSrACqR
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 17, 2025
Tomorrow will be the day to watch. Will Trump be able to make progress with Zelenskyy? Up to this point, he has been unwilling to make concessions. It remains to be seen if both sides can agree on a lasting deal. If anyone can make it happen, it is the Dealmaker-in-Chief. For him, negotiation is an art form he has long mastered.
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