Trump urged Ukraine’s Zelensky to make concessions to Russia in tense meeting: sources
US president reportedly pushed the Ukrainian leader to accept Russia’s current battle lines as a permanent ceasefire deal
US President Donald Trump pushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to give up swathes of territory to Russia during a tense meeting on Friday that left the Ukrainian delegation disappointed, according to two people briefed on the discussion.
Trump also declined to provide Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine’s use, and mused about giving security guarantees to both Kyiv and Moscow, comments that the Ukrainian delegation found confusing, added the two sources, who requested anonymity to discuss a private conversation.
After his meeting with Zelensky, Trump publicly called for a ceasefire on the current front lines, a position that the Ukrainian president then embraced in comments to reporters. A third person said Trump came up with that proposal during the meeting after Zelensky said he would not voluntarily cede any territory to Moscow.
“The meeting ended with (Trump’s) decision to make a ‘deal where we are, on the demarcation line’,” the third source said.
Trump underscored that position in remarks to reporters on Sunday.