From Fox News: President Donald Trump supports Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s proposal for Moscow to take full control of the Donbas region and freeze the front lines elsewhere for an agreement with Ukraine, a European diplomat confirmed to Fox News.
Donbas had a pre-war population of 150,000 and includes the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
After meeting with Putin on Friday in Alaska, Trump told European allies that the Russian president reiterated that he wants the key Luhansk and Donetsk regions, but that he appeared open to the possibility of ending the stalemate in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson along with a freeze along the front lines.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously rejected the idea of surrendering the territory in the Donbas.
Zelenskyy has refused to withdraw from the remaining 30% of Donetsk that Ukraine still controls. He has said that doing so would be unconstitutional, and the territory could be used as a staging ground for later Russian attacks.
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with President Trump at the White House on Monday.
In a post on X Saturday afternoon, he shared a joint statement from the leaders of the Nordic Baltic Eight, and wrote:
Thank you for the support! All the points mentioned are important to achieve a truly sustainable and reliable peace. We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation. If they lack the will to carry out a simple order to stop the strikes, it may take a lot of effort to get Russia to have the will to implement far greater – peaceful coexistence with its neighbors for decades. But together we are working for peace and security. Stopping the killing is a key element of stopping the war.
Today, coordination with partners has been ongoing throughout the day. Tomorrow, calls are also already scheduled. We are preparing for Monday’s meeting with President Trump, and I am grateful for the invitation. It is important that everyone agrees there needs to be a conversation at the level of leaders to clarify all the details and determine which steps are necessary and will work. We in Ukraine welcome the principled statement of the Nordic-Baltic partners and are grateful for their very significant assistance. The unity of all strengthens each one!
Thank you for the support! All the points mentioned are important to achieve a truly sustainable and reliable peace. We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation. If they lack… pic.twitter.com/bkTXwjMSnX
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 16, 2025
Bill Mitchell, host of YourVoice America, wrote last week, “To achieve peace, Ukraine would have to cede Donbas and Crimea to Russia. These areas have long been under Russian control and are a small price to pay for peace. Of course Zelensky refuses because war is his only grip on power and to hide his corruption.”
To achieve peace, Ukraine would have to cede Donbas and Crimea to Russia. These areas have long been under Russian control and are a small price to pay for peace. Of course Zelensky refuses because war is his only grip on power and to hide his corruption. pic.twitter.com/TFeYz7UqRg
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) August 9, 2025
Mitchell added Friday morning, “When you cannot win a war, you negotiate peace and sometimes that means giving up territory. The bottom line is that Ukraine cannot sustain years more of war with Russia and the US has cut off war aid. Zelensky should feel fortunate to be losing only Donbas and Crimea which were ethnically Russian anyway.”
When you cannot win a war, you negotiate peace and sometimes that means giving up territory. The bottom line is that Ukraine cannot sustain years more of war with Russia and the US has cut off war aid.
Zelensky should feel fortunate to be losing only Donbas and Crimea which…
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) August 15, 2025
Crimea is 60% Russian anyway.
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) August 15, 2025
READ MORE from Fox News.
Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter.)
The DML News App: www.X.com/DMLNewsApp
