US President Donald Trump has said he wants Ukraine to retain as much territory “as possible” under the incoming potential peace deal with Russia.
He reiterated his demand regarding the possible concessions before the peace deal is finally secured between the two nations over the ongoing Ukraine war.
However, he also said that he wishes to concede some of the territories to Russia to secure the much-needed ceasefire deal.
Meanwhile, five Ukrainian regions have also voted to join Russia since 2014. While Kiev has rejected the territorial changes, Moscow has also denied giving concessions to Kiev.
Following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump was asked if a peace deal that involved Russia maintaining control over Ukrainian-claimed land could send a message to China detrimental to American interests.
“We’re going to do the best we can to make the best deal we can for both sides,” Trump responded, adding that for Kiev that means “they can get as much back as possible.” Although an agreement is not guaranteed, Trump expressed hope that it would materialise “for the sake of humanity.”
Trump stressed that Ukraine “can forget about” joining NATO as this aspiration lies at the heart of this ongoing conflict. He asserted that Russia will “have to” make concessions as well.
Before the meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated that the Kremlin would reject a truce deal that merely freezes the conflict along the current front line, leaving parts of Russian territory under Ukrainian jurisdiction.
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“Some propose maintaining the line of engagement—this section is Russian, that one is Ukrainian… That won’t happen, as we have a Constitution reflecting the will of the people,” Lavrov said, referencing the referendums held in the five former Ukrainian regions.
Both Moscow and Washington suggest that this shift provides hope for a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
Additionally, the Trump administration aims to recover taxpayer funds spent during Biden’s tenure through a forthcoming minerals deal with Kiev, expected to be signed on Friday.
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