During tense White House talks last Friday, US President Donald Trump reportedly urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to cede control of the eastern Donbas region—a key Russian demand—in exchange for peace, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP.
The source described the discussions as “not easy,” with diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict feeling “dragged out” and circular. Zelensky had hoped to leverage Trump’s frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over ceasefire delays but left without securing long-range Tomahawk missiles he requested.
Trump, who met with Putin the day before, later tweeted that his talks with Zelensky were “very interesting and cordial” and emphasized that both leaders should “stop the killing and make a DEAL!”
The US president, who promised to end Russia’s three-and-a-half-year invasion within 24 hours of his January inauguration, has yet to secure any concessions from Putin, and his stance on the conflict has shifted repeatedly following discussions with both leaders.
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